Home / Guides / Citation Guides / MLA Format / MLA In-text Citations
![](http://sektorel.online/777/templates/cheerup/res/banner1.gif)
MLA In-Text Citations
An in-text citation is a reference to a source that is found within the text of a paper ( Handbook 227). This tells a reader that an idea, quote, or paraphrase originated from a source. MLA in-text citations usually include the last name of the author and the location of cited information.
This guide focuses on how to create MLA in-text citations, such as citations in prose and parenthetical citations in the current MLA style, which is in its 9th edition. This style was created by the Modern Language Association . This guide reviews MLA guidelines but is not related directly to the association.
Table of Contents
Here’s a quick rundown of the contents of this guide on how to use in-text citations.
Fundamentals
- Why in-text citations are important
- Prose vs parenthetical in-text citation differences
- Parenthetical citation reference chart
In-text citation examples
- In-text citation with two authors
- In-text citation with 3+ authors
- In-text citation with no authors
- In-text citation with corporate authors
- In-text citation with edited books and anthologies
- In-text citation with no page numbers and online sources
- Citing the same sources multiple times
- Citing 2+ sources in the same in-text citation
- Citing multiple works by the same author in the same in-text citation
- Abbreviating titles
- Citing religious works and scriptures
- Citing long or block quotes
Why are in-text citations important?
In-text citations
- Give full credit to sources that are quoted and paraphrased in a work/paper.
- Help the writer avoid plagiarism.
- Are a signal that the information came from another source.
- Tell the reader where the information came from.
In-text citation vs. in-prose vs. parenthetical
An in-text citation is a general citation of where presented information came from. In MLA, an in-text citation can be displayed in two different ways:
- In the prose
- As a parenthetical citation
While the two ways are similar, there are slight differences. However, for both ways, you’ll need to know how to format page numbers in MLA .
Citation in prose
An MLA citation in prose is when the author’s name is used in the text of the sentence. At the end of the sentence, in parentheses, is the page number where the information was found.
Here is an example
When it comes to technology, King states that we “need to be comfortable enough with technology tools and services that we can help point our patrons in the right direction, even if we aren’t intimately familiar with how the device works” (11).
This MLA citation in prose includes King’s name in the sentence itself, and this specific line of text was taken from page 11 of the journal it was found in.
Parenthetical citation
An MLA parenthetical citation is created when the author’s name is NOT in the sentence. Instead, the author’s name is in parentheses after the sentence, along with the page number.
Here is an MLA parenthetical citation example
When it comes to technology, we “need to be comfortable enough with technology tools and services that we can help point our patrons in the right direction, even if we aren’t intimately familiar with how the device works” (King 11).
In the above example, King’s name is not included in the sentence itself, so his name is in parentheses after the sentence, with 11 for the page number. The 11 indicates that the quote is found on page 11 in the journal.
Full reference
For every source that is cited using an in-text citation, there is a corresponding full reference. This allows readers to track down the original source.
At the end of the assignment, on the MLA works cited page , is the full reference. The full reference includes the full name of the author, the title of the article, the title of the journal, the volume and issue number, the date the journal was published, and the URL where the article was found.
Here is the full reference for King’s quote
King, David Lee. “Why Stay on Top of Technology Trends?” Library Technology Reports , vol. 54, no. 2, Feb.-Mar. 2018, ezproxy.nypl.org/login?url=//search-proquest-com.i.ezproxy.nypl.org/docview/2008817033?accountid=35635.
Readers can locate the article online via the information included above.
Citation overview
![how to in text cite essays mla mla-in-text-citations-reference-overview](https://www.easybib.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/MLA-citations-overview-e1626813848211.webp)
The next section of this guide focuses on how to structure an MLA in-text citation and reference in parentheses in various situations.
A narrative APA in-text citation and APA parenthetical citation are somewhat similar but have some minor differences. Check out our helpful guides, and others, on EasyBib.com!
Wondering how to handle these types of references in other styles? Check out our page on APA format , or choose from more styles .
Parenthetical Citation Reference Chart
Author/Sources | In-text citation | Structure & Explanation |
---|---|---|
41 (“Nothing Lost” 178) | (Title Location) Use the title. Use an abbreviated version if it’s long. Format the title like you do in the reference. “Quotation marks” = Work that’s part of a bigger source (e.g., book chapter, journal article, blog post, etc.) = Book, play, entire website, etc. | |
One author | (Epstein 161) | (Author’s last name Location) |
(Austen and ) | (Last name and ) | |
(Eriksson and Sagen 23) | From one source – list both authors separated by , followed by the page number. | |
(Leung et al. 58) | Use et al. to indicate that there are 3 or more authors. | |
(The British Museum) (United States, Dept. of Education 82) | List the corporation or organization’s name. Use abbreviations as appropriate. If several names are given, list all the names and separate them by a comma. | |
(Castillo 74) | Use the editor’s name instead of the author’s name. | |
(Sarreal 11; DeArce 65) | Cite both authors/locations individually separated by a semicolon. |
Sources with Two Authors
There are many books, journal articles, magazine articles, reports, and other source types written or created by two authors.
When a source has two authors, place both authors’ last names in the body of your work ( Handbook 232). The last names do not need to be listed in alphabetical order. Instead, follow the same order as shown on the source.
In an MLA in-text citation, separate the two last names with the word “and.” After both authors’ names, add a space and the page number where the original quote or information is found on.
Here is an example of an MLA citation in prose for a book with two authors
Gaiman and Pratchett further elaborate by sharing their creepy reminder that “just because it’s a mild night doesn’t mean that dark forces aren’t abroad. They’re abroad all of the time. They’re everywhere” (15).
Here is an example of an MLA parenthetical citation for a book with two authors
Don’t forget that “just because it’s a mild night doesn’t mean that dark forces aren’t abroad. They’re abroad all of the time. They’re everywhere” (Gaiman and Pratchett 15).
If you’re still confused, check out EasyBib.com’s MLA in-text citation generator, which allows you to create MLA in-text citations and other types of references in just a few clicks!
If it’s an APA book citation you’re looking to create, we have a helpful guide on EasyBib.com. While you’re at it, check out our APA journal guide!
Sources With Three or More Authors
There are a number of sources written or created by three or more authors. Many research studies and reports, scholarly journal articles, and government publications are developed by three or more individuals.
If you included the last names of all individuals in your MLA in-text citations or in parentheses, it would be too distracting to the reader. It may also cause the reader to lose sight of the overall message of the paper or assignment. Instead of including all last names, only include the last name of the first individual shown on the source. Follow the first author’s last name with the Latin phrase, “et al.” This Latin phrase translates to “and others.” Add the page number after et al.
Here’s an example of an MLA parenthetical citation for multiple authors
“School library programs in Croatia and Hong Kong are mainly focused on two major educational tasks. One task is enhancing students’ general literacy and developing reading habits, whereas the other task is developing students’ information literacy and research abilities” (Tam et al. 299).
The example above only includes the first listed author’s last name. All other authors are credited when “et al.” is used. If the reader wants to see the other authors’ full names, the reader can refer to the final references at the end of the assignment or to the full source.
The abbreviation et al. is used with references in parentheses, as well as in full references. To include the authors’ names in prose, you can either write each name out individually or, you can type out the meaning of et al., which is “and others.”
Here is an acceptable MLA citation in prose example for sources with more than three authors
School library programming in Croatia and Hong Kong is somewhat similar to programming in the United States. Tam, Choi, Tkalcevic, Dukic, and Zheng share that “school library programs in Croatia and Hong Kong are mainly focused on two major educational tasks. One task is enhancing students’ general literacy and developing reading habits, whereas the other task is developing students’ information literacy and research abilities” (299).
If your instructor’s examples of how to do MLA in-text citations for three or more authors looks different than the example here, your instructor may be using an older edition of this style. To discover more about previous editions, learn more here .
Need some inspiration for your research project? Trying to figure out the perfect topic? Check out our Dr. Seuss , Marilyn Monroe , and Malcolm X topic guides!
Sources Without an Author
It may seem unlikely, but there are times when an author’s name isn’t included on a source. Many digital images, films and videos, encyclopedia articles, dictionary entries, web pages, and more do not have author names listed.
If the source you’re attempting to cite does not have an author’s name listed, the MLA in-text citation or parenthetical citation should display the title. If the title is rather long, it is acceptable to shorten it in the body of your assignment. If you choose to shorten the title, make sure the first word in the full citation is also the first word used in the citation in prose or parenthetical citation. This is done to allow the reader to easily locate the full citation that corresponds with the reference in the text.
If, in the Works Cited list, the full reference has the title within quotation marks, include those quotation marks in the in-text citation or reference in parentheses. If the title is written in italics in the full reference, use italics for the title in the in-text citation or reference in parentheses as well.
Parenthetical Citations MLA Examples
The example below is from a poem found online, titled “the last time.” the poem’s author is unknown..
“From the moment you hold your baby in your arms you will never be the same. You might long for the person you were before, when you had freedom and time and nothing in particular to worry about” (“The Last Time”).
The example below is from the movie, The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain .
“Perhaps it would have been different if there hadn’t been a war, but this was 1917, and people were exhausted by loss. Those that were allowed to stay manned the pits, mining the coal that would fuel the ships. Twenty-four hours a day they labored” ( Englishman ).
Notice the shortened title in the above reference. This allows the reader to spend more time focusing on the content of your project, rather than the sources.
If you’re looking for an MLA in-text citation website to help you with your references, check out EasyBib Plus on EasyBib.com! EasyBib Plus can help you determine how to do in-text citations MLA and many other types of references!
Corporate Authors
Numerous government publications, research reports, and brochures state the name of the organization as the author responsible for publishing it.
When the author is a corporate entity or organization, this information is included in the MLA citation in prose or parenthetical citation.
“One project became the first to evaluate how e-prescribing standards work in certain long-term care settings and assessed the impact of e-prescribing on the workflow among prescribers, nurses, the pharmacies, and payers” (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 2).
If the full name of the organization or governmental agency is long in length, it is acceptable to abbreviate some words, as long as they are considered common abbreviations. These abbreviations should only be in the references with parentheses. They should not be used in citations in prose.
Here is a list of words that can be abbreviated in parentheses:
- Department = Dept.
- Government = Govt.
- Corporation = Corp.
- Incorporated = Inc.
- Company = Co.
- United States = US
Example of a shortened corporate author name in an MLA parenthetical citation
“Based on our analysis of available data provided by selected states’ departments of corrections, the most common crimes committed by inmates with serious mental illness varied from state to state” (US Govt. Accountability Office 14).
Here is how the same corporate author name would look in an MLA citation in prose
The United States Government Accountability Office states, “Based on our analysis of available data provided by selected states’ departments of corrections, the most common crimes committed by inmates with serious mental illness varied from state to state” (14).
Remember, citations in prose should not have abbreviations; other types of references can.
Looking for more information on abbreviations? Check out our page on MLA format.
Edited Books and Anthologies
Edited books and anthologies often include chapters or sections, each written by an individual author or a small group of authors. These compilations are placed together by an editor or a group of editors. There are tons of edited books and anthologies available today, ranging from ones showcasing Black history facts and literature to those focusing on notable individuals such as scientists like Albert Eintein and politicians such as Winston Churchill .
If you’re using information from an edited book or an anthology, include the chapter author’s name in your MLA citation in prose or reference in parentheses. Do not use the name(s) of the editor(s). Remember, the purpose of these references is to provide the reader with some insight as to where the information originated. If, after reading your project, the reader would like more information on the sources used, the reader can use the information provided in the full reference, at the very end of the assignment. With that in mind, since the full reference begins with the author of the individual chapter or section, that same information is what should be included in any citations in prose or references in parentheses.
Here is an example of an MLA citation in prose for a book with an editor
Weinstein further states that “one implication of this widespread adaptation of anthropological methods to historical research was the eclipse of the longstanding concern with “change over time,” and the emergence of a preference for synchronic, rather than diachronic, themes” (195).
Full reference at the end of the assignment
Weinstein, Barbara. “History Without a Cause? Grand Narratives, World History, and the Postcolonial Dilemma.” Postcolonial Studies: An Anthology , edited by Pramod K. Nayar, Wiley-Blackwell, 2015, p. 196. Wiley , www.wiley.com/en-us/Postcolonial+Studies%3A+An+Anthology-p-9781118780985.
Once you’re through with writing and citing, run your paper through our innovative plagiarism checker ! It’s the editor of your dreams and provides suggestions for improvement.
Sources Without Page Numbers and Online Sources
When a source has no page numbers, which is often the case with long web page articles, e-books, and numerous other source types, do not include any page number information in the body of the project. Do not estimate or invent your own page numbering system for the source. If there aren’t any page numbers, omit this information from the MLA in-text citation. There may, however, be paragraph numbers included in some sources. If there are distinct and clear paragraph numbers directly on the source, replace the page number with this information. Make it clear to the reader that the source is organized by paragraphs by using “par.” before the paragraph number, or use “pars.” if the information is from more than one paragraph.
Here is an example of how to create an MLA parenthetical citation for a website
“She ran through the field with the wind blowing in her hair and a song through the breeze” (Jackson par. 5).
Here’s an example of an MLA citation in prose for a website
In Brenner’s meeting notes, he further shared his motivation to actively seek out and secure self help resources when he announced, “When we looked at statistical evidence, the most commonly checked out section of the library was self-help. This proves that patrons consistently seek out help for personal issues and wish to solve them with the help of the community’s resources” (pars. 2-3).
Here’s another MLA in-text citation example for a website
Holson writes about a new mindful app, which provides listeners with the soothing sound of not only Bob Ross’ voice, but also the “soothing swish of his painter’s brush on canvas.”
In above example, the information normally found in the parentheses is omitted since there aren’t any page, parentheses, or chapter numbers on the website article.
Looking for APA citation website examples? We have what you need on EasyBib.com!
Need an in-text or parenthetical citation MLA website? Check out EasyBib Plus on EasyBib.com! Also, check out MLA Citation Website , which explains how to create references for websites.
Citing the Same Source Multiple Times
It may seem redundant to constantly include an author’s name in the body of a research project or paper. If you use an author’s work in one section of your project, and the next piece of information included is by the same individual(s), then it is not necessary to share in-text, whether in prose or in parentheses, that both items are from the same author. It is acceptable to include the last name of the author in the first use, and in the second usage, only a page number needs to be included.
Here is an example of how to cite the same source multiple times
“One of the major tests is the Project for Standardized Assessment of Information Literacy Skills. This measurement was developed over four years as a joint partnership between the Association of Research Libraries and Kent State University” (Tong and Moran 290). This exam is just one of many available to measure students’ information literacy skills. It is fee-based, so it is not free, but the results can provide stakeholders, professors, curriculum developers, and even librarians and library service team members with an understanding of students’ abilities and misconceptions. It is not surprising to read the results, which stated that “upper-level undergraduate students generally lack information literacy skills as evidenced by the results on this specific iteration of the Standardized Assessment of Information Literacy Skills test” (295).
The reader can assume that the information in the second quote is from the same article as the first quote. If, in between the two quotes, a different source is included, Tong and Moran’s names would need to be added again in the last quote.
Here is the full reference at the end of the project:
Tong, Min, and Carrie Moran. “Are Transfer Students Lagging Behind in Information Literacy?” Reference Services Review , vol. 45, no. 2, 2017, pp. 286-297. ProQuest , ezproxy.nypl.org/login?url=//search-proquest-com.i.ezproxy.nypl.org/docview/1917280148?accountid=35635.
Citing Two or More Sources in the Same In-text Citation
According to section 6.30 of the Handbook , parenthetical citations containing multiple sources in a single parenthesis should be separated by semicolons.
(Granger 5; Tsun 77) (Ruiz 212; Diego 149)
Citing Multiple Works by the Same Author in One In-text Citation
Just as you might want to cite two different sources at the same time, it can also be useful to cite different works by the same author all at once.
Section 6.30 of the Handbook specifies that “citations of different locations in a single source are separated by commas” (251).
(Maeda 59, 174-76, 24) (Kauffman 7, 234, 299)
Furthermore, if you are citing multiple works by the same author, the titles should be joined by and if there are only two. Otherwise, use commas and and .
(Murakami, Wild Sheep Chase and Norwegian Wood ) (Murakami, Wild Sheep Chase , Norwegian Wood , and “With the Beatles”)
Abbreviating Titles
When listing the titles, be aware that long titles in parenthetical citations can distract the reader and cause confusion. It will be necessary to shorten the titles appropriately for in-text citations. According to the Handbook , “shorten the title if it is longer than a noun phrase” (237). The abbreviated title should begin with the word by which the title is alphabetized.
Best practice is to give the first word the reference is listed by so the source is easily found in the works cited. Omit articles that start a title: a, an, the. When possible, use the first noun (and any adjectives before it). For more on titles and their abbreviations, head to section 6.10 of the Handbook .
- Full title : The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
- Abbreviated: Curious
- Full title: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
- Abbreviated: Disreputable History
Religious Works and Scriptures
There are instances when religious works are italicized in the text of a project, and times when it is not necessary to italicize the title.
If you’re referring to the general religious text, such as the Bible, Torah, or Qur’an, it is not necessary to italicize the name of the scripture in the body of the project. If you’re referring to a specific edition of a religious text, then it is necessary to italicize it, both in text and in the full reference.
Here are some commonly used editions:
- King James Bible
- The Orthodox Jewish Bible
- American Standard Bible
- The Steinsaltz Talmud
- The Babylonian Talmud
- New International Bible
When including a reference, do not use page numbers from the scripture. Instead, use the designated chapter numbers and verse numbers.
MLA example of an in-text citation for a religious scripture
While, unacceptable in today’s society, the Bible is riddled with individuals who have two, three, and sometimes four or more spouses. One example in the King James Bible , states that an individual “had two wives, the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children” (1 Sam. 1.2)
The only religious scripture that is allowed to be in the text of a project, but not in the Works Cited list, is the Qur’an. There is only one version of the Qur’an. It is acceptable to include the name of the Qur’an in the text, along with the specific chapter and verse numbers.
If you’re attempting to create a reference for a religious work, but it’s not considered a “classic” religious book, such as a biography about Mother Teresa , or a book about Muhammed Ali’s conversion, then a reference in the text and also on the final page of the project is necessary.
If you’re creating an APA bibliography , you do not need to create a full reference for classic religious works on an APA reference page .
For another MLA in-text citation website and for more on the Bible and other source types, click here .
Long or Block Quotes
Quotes longer than four lines are called, “block quotes.” Block quotes are sometimes necessary when you’re adding a lengthy piece of information into your project. If you’d like to add a large portion of Martin Luther King ’s “I Have a Dream” speech, a lengthy amount of text from a Mark Twain book, or multiple lines from Abraham Lincoln ’s Gettysburg Address, a block quote is needed.
MLA block quotes are formatted differently than shorter quotes in the body of a project. Why? The unique formatting signals to the reader that they’re about to read a lengthy quote.
Block quotes are called block quotes because they form their own block of text. They are set apart from the body of a project with different spacing and margins.
Begin the block quote on a new line. The body of the full project should run along the one inch margin, but the block quote should be set in an inch and a half. The entire quote should be along the inch and a half margin.
If there aren’t any quotation marks in the text itself, do not include any in the block quote. This is very different than standard reference rules. In most cases, quotation marks are added around quoted material. For block quotes, since the reader can see that the quoted material sits in its own block, it is not necessary to place quotation marks around it.
Here is an MLA citation in prose example of a block quote
Despite Bruchac’s consistent difficult situations at home, basketball kept his mind busy and focused:
When I got off the late bus that afternoon, my grandparents weren’t home. The store was locked and there was a note from Grama on the house door. Doc Magovern had come to the house because Grampa was “having trouble with his blood.” Now they were off to the hospital and I “wasn’t to worry.” This had happened before. Grampa had pernicious anemia and sometimes was very sick. So, naturally, it worried the pants off me. I actually thought about taking my bike down the dreaded 9N the three miles to the Saratoga Hospital. Instead, I did as I knew they wanted. I opened the store and waited for customers. None came, though, and my eye was caught by the basketball stowed away as usual behind the door. I had to do something to take my mind off what was happening to Grampa. I took out the ball and went around the side. (13)
Notice the use of the colon prior to the start of the block quote. Do not use a colon if the block quote is part of the sentence above it.
Here is an example of the same block quote, without the use of the colon:
Despite Bruchac’s consistent difficult situations at home, it was clear that basketball kept his mind busy and focused when he states
When I get off the late bus that afternoon, my grandparents weren’t home…
If two or more paragraphs are included in your block quote, start each paragraph on a new line.
Looking for additional helpful websites? Need another MLA in-text citation website? Check out the style in the news . We also have other handy articles, guides, and posts to help you with your research needs. Here’s one on how to write an MLA annotated bibliography .
Visit our EasyBib Twitter feed to discover more citing tips, fun grammar facts, and the latest product updates.
![how to in text cite essays mla Overview of MLA in-text citation structures](https://www.easybib.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/EasyBib-MLA-in-text-citation-chart_2020.webp)
If you’re looking for information on styling an APA citation , EasyBib.com has the guides you need!
MLA Handbook . 9th ed., Modern Language Association of America, 2021.
Published October 31, 2011. Updated July 5, 2021.
Written and edited by Michele Kirschenbaum and Elise Barbeau. Michele Kirschenbaum is a school library media specialist and the in-house librarian at EasyBib.com. Elise Barbeau is the Citation Specialist at Chegg. She has worked in digital marketing, libraries, and publishing.
MLA Formatting Guide
MLA Formatting
- Annotated Bibliography
- Bibliography
- Block Quotes
- et al Usage
- In-text Citations
- Paraphrasing
- Page Numbers
- Sample Paper
- Works Cited
- MLA 8 Updates
- MLA 9 Updates
- View MLA Guide
Citation Examples
- Book Chapter
- Journal Article
- Magazine Article
- Newspaper Article
- Website (no author)
- View all MLA Examples
How useful was this post?
Click on a star to rate it!
We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!
Let us improve this post!
Tell us how we can improve this post?
In MLA style, if multiple sources have the same author , the titles should be joined by and if there are only two. Otherwise, use commas and and .
- In-text citation: (Austen Emma and Mansfield Park )
- Structure: (Last name 1st Source’s title and 2nd Source’s title )
- In-text citation: (Leung et al. 58)
If the author is a corporate entity or organization, included the name of the corporate entity or organization in the in-text citation.
- In-text citation: (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 2)
Yes, there’s an option to download source citations as a Word Doc or a Google Doc. You may also copy citations from the EasyBib Citation Generator and paste them into your paper.
Yes! Whether you’d like to learn how to construct citations on your own, our Autocite tool isn’t able to gather the metadata you need, or anything in between, manual citations are always an option. Click here for directions on using creating manual citations.
An in-text citation is a shortened version of the source being referred to in the paper. As the name implies, it appears in the text of the paper. A works cited list entry, on the other hand, details the complete information of the source being cited and is listed within the works cited list at the end of the paper after the main text. The in-text citation is designed to direct the reader to the full works cited list entry. An example of an in-text citation and the corresponding works cited list entry for a journal article with one author is listed below:
In-text citation template and example:
Only the author surname (or the title of the work if there is no author) is used in in-text citations to direct the reader to the corresponding reference list entry. For citations in prose, use the first name and surname of the author for the first occurrence. In subsequent citations, use only the surname. In parenthetical citations, always use only the surname of the author. If you are directly quoting the source, the page number should also be included in the in-text citation.
Citation in prose:
First mention: Christopher Collins ….
Subsequent occurrences: Collins ….
Parenthetical:
….(Collins)
….(Collins 5)
Works cited list entry template and example:
The title of the article is in plain text and title case and is placed inside quotation marks. The title of the journal is set in italics.
Surname, F. “Title of the Article.” Journal Title , vol. #, no. #, Publication Date, page range.
Collins, Christopher. “On Posthuman Materiality: Art-Making as Rhizomatic Rehearsal.” Text and Performance Quarterly , vol. 39, no. 2, 2019, pp. 153–59.
Note that because the author’s surname (Collins) was included in the in-text citation, the reader would then be able to easily locate the works cited list entry since the entry begins with the author’s surname.
An in-text citation is a short citation that is placed next to the text being cited. The basic element needed for an in-text citation is the author’s name . The publication year is not required in in-text citations. Sometimes, page numbers or line numbers are also included, especially when text is quoted from the source being cited. In-text citations are mentioned in the text in two ways: as a citation in prose or a parenthetical citation.
Citations in prose are incorporated into the text and act as a part of the sentence. Usually, citations in prose use the author’s full name when cited the first time in the text. Thereafter, only the surname is used. Avoid including the middle initial even if it is present in the works-cited-list entry.
Parenthetical
Parenthetical citations add only the author’s surname at the end of the sentence in parentheses.
Examples of in-text citations
Here are a few tips to create in-text citations for sources with various numbers and types of authors:
Use both the first name and surname of the author if you are mentioning the author for the first time in the prose. In subsequent occurrences, use only the author’s surname. Always use only the surname of the author in parenthetical citations.
First mention: Sheele John asserts …. (7).
Subsequent occurrences: John argues …. (7).
…. (John 7).
Two authors
Use the first name and surname of both authors if you are mentioning the work for the first time in the prose. In subsequent occurrences, use only the surnames of the two authors. Always use only the authors’ surnames in parenthetical citations. Use “and” to separate the two authors in parenthetical citations.
First mention: Katie Longman and Clara Sullivan ….
Subsequent occurrences: Longman and Sullivan ….
…. ( Longman and Sullivan).
Three or more authors
For citations in prose, use the first name and surname of the first author followed by “and others” or “and colleagues.” For parenthetical citations, use only the surname of the first author followed by “et al.”
Lincy Mathew and colleagues…. or Lincy Mathew and others ….
…. (Mathew et al.).
Corporate author
For citations in prose, treat the corporate author like you would treat the author’s name. For parenthetical citations, shorten the organization name to the shortest noun phrase. For example, shorten the Modern Language Association of America to Modern Language Association.
The Literary Society of Malaysia….
…. (Literary Society).
If there is no author for the source, use the source’s title in place of the author’s name for both citations in prose and parenthetical citations.
When you add such in-text citations, italicize the text of the title. If the source title is longer than a noun phrase, use a shortened version of the title. For example, shorten the title Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them to Fantastic Beasts .
Knowing Body of Work explains …. (102).
….( Knowing Body 102).
MLA Citation Examples
Writing Tools
Citation Generators
Other Citation Styles
Plagiarism Checker
Upload a paper to check for plagiarism against billions of sources and get advanced writing suggestions for clarity and style.
Get Started
University Libraries University of Nevada, Reno
- Skill Guides
- Subject Guides
MLA Citation Guide (MLA 9th Edition): In-Text Citation
- Understanding Core Elements
- Formatting Appendices and Works Cited List
- Writing an Annotated Bibliography
- Academic Honesty and Citation
In-Text Citation
- Charts, Graphs, Images, and Tables
- Class Notes and Presentations
- Encyclopedias and Dictionaries
- Generative AI
- In Digital Assignments
- Interviews and Emails
- Journal and Magazine Articles
- Newspaper Articles
- Social Media
- Special Collections
- Videos and DVDs
- When Information Is Missing
- Citation Software
In-text citations are inserted in the body of your research paper to briefly document the source of your information.
- In-text citations in MLA style follow the general format of author's last name followed by a page number enclosed in parentheses. Here is an example: "Here's a direct quote" (Smith 8).
- If the author's name is not given, use the first word (or words) of the title. Follow the same formatting that is used in the works-cited list, such as quotation marks. Here is an example: This is a paraphrase ("Trouble" 22).
- If the source does not have page numbers (for example, some online articles, websites and e-books), only include the author's name for the in-text citation. Do not estimate or make up page numbers.
- In-text citations point the reader to the works-cited list, which is located at the end of your paper, for more complete bibliographic information.
Repeated Use of Sources
If you use information from a single source more than once in succession (i.e., no other sources referred to in between), you can use a simplified in-text citation. Here is an example:
Cell biology is an area of science that focuses on the structure and function of cells (Smith 15). It revolves around the idea that the cell is a "fundamental unit of life" (17).
Note: If using this simplified in-text citation creates ambiguity regarding the source being referred to, use the full in-text citation format.
In-Text Citation Formatting and Examples
Format: (Author's Last Name Page Number)
Example: (Hunt 358)
Two Authors
Format: (Author's Last Name and Author's Last Name Page Number)
Example: (Case and Daristotle 57)
Three or More Authors
Format: (Author's Last Name et al. Page Number)
Example: (Case et al. 57)
Unknown Author
Where you would normally put the author's last name, instead use the first one, two, or three words from the title. Do not use initial articles such as "A", "An" or "The". Provide enough words to clarify which sources from your works-cited list that you are referencing.
Follow the formatting of the title. For example, if the title in the works-cited list is in italics, italicize the words from the title in the in-text citation, and if the title in the works-cited list is in quotation marks, put quotation marks around the words from the title in the in-text citation.
Format: (Title Page Number)
Examples :
( Cell Biology 12)
("Nursing" 12)
Multiple Sources
To cite more than one source when you are paraphrasing, separate the in-text citations with a semi-colon.
Format: (Author's Last Name Page Number; Author's Last Name Page Number).
(Smith 42; Bennett 71).
( It Takes Two ; Brock 43).
Note: In MLA style, the sources within the in-text citation do not need to be in alphabetical order.
Works Quoted in Another Source
Sometimes an author of a book, article or website will mention another person's work by using a quotation or paraphrased idea from that source. (This may be a secondary source.) For example, the Kirkey article you are reading includes a quotation by Smith that you would like to include in your essay. The basic rule is that in both your Works-Cited List and in-text citation you will still cite Kirkey. Kirkey will appear in your Works Cited list – NOT Smith. Add the words "qtd. in" to your in-text citation.
Examples of in-text citations:
According to a study by Smith (qtd. in Kirkey) 42% of doctors would refuse to perform legal euthanasia.
Smith (qtd. in Kirkey) states that “even if euthanasia was legal, 42% of doctors would be against this method of assisted dying” (A.10).
Example of Works Cited List citation:
Kirkey, Susan. "Euthanasia." The Montreal Gazette , 9 Feb. 2013, p. A.10. Canadian Newsstand Major Dailies.
- << Previous: Academic Honesty and Citation
- Next: How Do I Cite? >>
![how to in text cite essays mla Banner](https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/sites/600/banner/libguides-banner.jpg)
MLA Citation Guide
- MLA Citations
- Works Cited List
- Library Databases
- Online Sources
- Print Books
- Other Sources
In-Text Citations
- Formatting Your Paper
- General Information
- Verbs in Signal Phrases
- Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing
In addition to crediting other creators, the point of in-text citations is to get your reader to the long-form citation on the Works Cited page. According to the MLA Handbook , the citation should interrupt the text of your essay as little as possible (227). There are two ways to do this:
- Signal phrase (" Citation in prose " in the MLA Handbook ) : Introducing the name of the author or the work's title in the text of your sentence.
- Parenthetical citation: Paraphrasing an idea or using a quotation without the author/title in your sentence text. The author/title goes in parentheses at the end of your sentence.
Signal Phrase
The signal phrase lets your reader know that you are paraphrasing or quoting an idea from someone else's work. If your paper deals with a particular work of literature, or if you are relying heavily on the work of one or more sources, a signal phrase introducing the source is recommended.
- Page or paragraph numbers go in parentheses at the end of your sentence. (If your source has no page/paragraph numbers, do not include them.)
- If you are quoting a source, the in-text citation always comes after the closing quotation mark.
- If there is no author, use the title of the work in your signal phrase.
Examples of a Signal Phrase
Parenthetical citations.
When you do not include the author/title in your sentence text of the paragraph, a complete parenthetical citation is necessary.
- Quotes in your paper flow better when they are integrated the into a sentence.
- If the work has no author, use a shortened version of the title in your parenthetical citation.
- Page or paragraph numbers come after the author or shortened title.
Examples of a Parenthetical Citation
Works cited.
Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice . 1813. The Modern Library, 1995.
Duhigg, Charles. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business . Random House, 2012.
Kite, Allison. "Report: Residents in Kansas, Missouri Get Drinking Water from Lead Pipes at High Rates." Kansas Reflector , 15 Jul. 2021, kansasreflector.com/briefs/report-residents-in-kansas-missouri-get-drinking-water-from-lead-pipes-at-high-rates/.
MLA Handbook . 9th ed., Modern Language Association of America, 2021.
Upson, Matt, et al. Information Now: A Graphic Guide to Student Research . U of Chicago P, 2015.
Author Named in Your Paper
Duhigg argues that we can change our habits, but it can be a struggle to do so (20).
Kite reports that Kansas has 5,446 lead pipes per 100,000 residents, the third highest rate in the United States.
Two Authors Named in Your Paper
Strunk and White argue that writers should use the active voice because it is "direct and vigorous" (18).
Three or More Authors Named in Your Paper
For a source with three or more authors, the MLA Handbook recommends using the first author's name followed by one of the following phrases: "and colleagues" or "and others" (232-233).
Taylor and colleagues explore doctors' responses to patients with chronic illnesses after the doctors' diagnoses with long COVID (839).
One or Two Authors Not Named in Your Paper
We can change our habits, but because they are deeply ingrained into the brain, it can be a struggle to do so (Duhigg 20).
Writers should use the active voice because it is "direct and vigorous" (Strunk and White 18).
Three or More Authors Not Named in Your Paper
Although "research is a collective process, one shared and added to by all researchers," it is unacceptable to plagiarize someone else's work (Upson et al. 90).
If the source has no named author, your in-text citation will be an abbreviated version of the title. If it is a very short title, you may use the entire title. If the work without an author is an article, put quotes around the shortened title in the parenthetical citation; if it is a book, italicize it.
Full Title: Go Ask Alice
The diarist describes her first experience with LSD as "tremendous and wonderful and miraculous" ( Go Ask 30).
In Go Ask Alice, the diarist describes her first experience with LSD as "tremendous and wonderful and miraculous" (30).
Source with No Page Numbers
When citing an article without page numbers in your paper, omit the page element from your in-text citation.
According to DeRuy, a baby’s caretakers "have an enormous role in creating an environment where children have both the freedom and support to learn."
A baby’s caretakers "have an enormous role in creating an environment where children have both the freedom and support to learn" (DeRuy).
DeRuy, Emily. “The Complex Lives of Babies.” The Atlantic , 20 June 2016, www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/06/the-complex-lives-of-babies/487679/.
Duhigg, Charles. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business . Random House, 2012.
Go Ask Alice . 1971. Simon Pulse, 2006.
Strunk, William, Jr., and E. B. White. The Elements of Style . 4th ed., Allyn and Bacon, 2000.
Taylor, Anna K., et al. “‘Reluctant Pioneer’: A Qualitative Study of Doctors’ Experiences as Patients with Long COVID.” Health Expectations , vol. 24, no. 3, June 2021, pp. 833–842. doi.org/10.1111/hex.13223.
Upson, Matt, et al. Information Now: A Graphic Guide to Student Research . U of Chicago P, 2015.
To avoid overusing the words "say/says" and "according to," try mixing it up with one of the verbs listed below. For example, instead of writing the following sentence:
Using a variety of verbs can make your writing more interesting to your reader.
Alternatives to "Says"
acknowledges adds admits agrees argues asserts believes claims comments compares confirms contends declares denies disputes emphasizes endorses grants illustrates implies insists notes observes points out reasons refutes rejects reports responds suggests thinks writes
Powers, William. Hamlet's BlackBerry: Building a Good Life in the Digital Age . Harper Perennial, 2011.
Quoting Sources
When you quote a source, you include the author's exact words in your text. Use "quotation marks" around the author's words. Include signal phrases and an in-text citation to show where the quote is from.
Bad Example
The example below is technically correct, but the quote disrupts the flow of the essay.
Better Example
The sentences below have better flow because the quote is introduced with a signal phrase.
Paraphrasing and Summarizing Sources
When you paraphrase or summarize a source, you restate the source's ideas in your own words and sentence structure. Select what is relevant to your topic, and restate only that. Changing only a few words is not sufficient in paraphrasing or summarizing. Instead, you need to completely rephrase the author's ideas in your own words. Since you are restating the idea in your own words instead of quoting it, do not use quotation marks.
Always use in-text citations when you paraphrase or summarize so that the reader will know that the information or opinion comes from someone other than you. Continue to use signal phrases as well.
Plagiarism Example
The example below does not significantly change the source material - it uses the same sentence structure and most of the same words for key ideas. It is also plagiarism because it does not provide a citation.
Correctly Paraphrased Example
The next example is not plagiarism - it restates the author's idea, and it provides a citation in MLA format.
Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice . 1813. The Modern Library, 1995.
- << Previous: Other Sources
- Next: Formatting Your Paper >>
- Last Updated: Aug 16, 2024 9:12 AM
- URL: https://butlercc.libguides.com/mla
Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons
Catalog search, site search.
- Seattle University
- Lemieux Library
Citing Your Sources Guide
- MLA In-Text Citations - The Basics
- Introduction to Citations
- APA In-text Citations - The Basics
- APA Reference List - The Basics
- APA Reference List - Examples
- APA Handouts
- Citing AI in APA Style
- House and Senate Reports and Documents
- Congressional Record
- Congressional Bills and Resolutions
- Federal Laws/Statutes
- Executive Documents - Presidential papers, Proclamations, and Executive Orders
- Rules/Regulations - Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) and the Federal Register
- Foreign Relations of the United States
- State Legislative Documents
- State Statutes (Laws)
- Court Cases (decisions/opinions)
- Government Agencies
- MLA Works Cited List - The Basics
- MLA Works Cited - Examples
- Chicago/Turabian - The Basics
- Chicago/Turabian in-text citations
- Chicago/Turabian Bibliography - Examples
- APA Art Citations
- MLA Art Citations
- Chicago Art Citations
- ArtSTOR Citations
- AMA reference list
- Citing Business Resources This link opens in a new window
- Citation Managers
Get Research Help
![how to in text cite essays mla Profile Photo](https://d2jv02qf7xgjwx.cloudfront.net/accounts/68867/profiles/58949/lemieux-4col.jpg)
MLA In-text Citations - The Basics
In MLA, referring to the works of others within text of your paper is done using parenthetical citations . This means placing relevant source information in parentheses whenever a sentence uses a quotation or paraphrase. Usually, the simplest way is to put all of the source information in parentheses at the end of the sentence (i.e., just before the period). However, as seen below, there are situations where it makes sense to put the parenthetical elsewhere in the sentence, or even to leave information out.
General Guidelines
- upon the source medium (e.g. print, web, DVD)
- upon the source’s entry on the Works Cited page.
- Any source information that you provide in-text must correspond to the source information on the Works Cited page. More specifically, whatever signal word or phrase you provide to your readers in the text must be the first thing that appears on the left-hand margin of the corresponding entry on the Works Cited page. This is so your reader can connect your in-text citation to the right line in your Works cited page.
- Be sure to check the full selection of examples for in-text citations below, they vary slightly depending on the type of source you are citing.
MLA in-text citations
MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page. The author's name may appear either in the sentence itself or in parentheses following the quotation or paraphrase, but the page number(s) should always appear in the parentheses, not in the text of your sentence. For example:
- Wordsworth stated that Romantic poetry was marked by a "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (263).
- Romantic poetry is characterized by the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings" (Wordsworth 263).
- Wordsworth extensively explored the role of emotion in the creative process (263).
Both citations in the examples above, (263) and (Wordsworth 263), tell readers that the information in the sentence can be located on page 263 of a work by an author named Wordsworth. If readers want more information about this source, they can turn to the Works Cited page, where, under the name of Wordsworth, they would find the following information:
- Wordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads . Oxford UP, 1967.
While the above is the general rule, there are some variations depending on the source of the quote or paraphrase. Here are a few examples, but please review the MLA Manual of Style for more detailed and specific information about in-text citations.
In-text citations by type
- Print Sources - Known author
- Print Sources - Corporate author
- Print Sources - No known author
- Classic works with multiple editions
- Works in an anthology
- Multiple authors
- Multiple works by same author
- Multivolume works
- Web sources
For print sources like books, magazines, scholarly journal articles, and newspapers, provide a signal word or phrase (usually the author’s last name) and a page number. If you provide the signal word/phrase in the sentence, you do not need to include it in the parenthetical citation.
- Human beings have been described by Kenneth Burke as "symbol-using animals" (3).
- Human beings have been described as "symbol-using animals" (Burke 3).
These examples must correspond to an entry that begins with Burke, which will be the first thing that appears on the left-hand margin of an entry on the Works Cited page:
- Burke, Kenneth. Language as Symbolic Action: Essays on Life, Literature, and Method . University of California Press, 1966.
When a source has a corporate author, it is acceptable to use the name of the corporation followed by the page number for the in-text citation. You should also use abbreviations (e.g., nat'l for national) where appropriate, so as to avoid interrupting the flow of reading with overly long parenthetical citations.
- Climate change is now "an important factor in developing new engineering systems" (EPA 321).
- The EPA has stated in a recent study, Climate change is now " an important factor in developing new engineering systems" (321).
When a source has no known author, use a shortened title of the work instead of an author name, following these guidelines.
- Place the title in quotation marks if it's a short work (such as an article), or italicize it if it's a longer work (e.g. plays, books, television shows, entire Web sites) and provide a page number if it is available.
Titles that are longer than a standard noun phrase should be shortened into a noun phrase by excluding articles. For example, To the Lighthouse would be shortened to just Lighthouse .
If the title cannot be easily shortened into a noun phrase, the title should be cut after the first clause, phrase, or punctuation:
- The world needs to act to reverse climate change, because it "is here, and it’s causing a wide range of impacts that will affect virtually every human on Earth in increasingly severe ways. . . ." ("Climate Impacts").
In this example, since the reader does not know the author of the article, an abbreviated title appears in the parenthetical citation, and the full title of the article appears first at the left-hand margin of its respective entry on the Works Cited page. Thus, the writer includes the title in quotation marks as the signal phrase in the parenthetical citation in order to lead the reader directly to the source on the Works Cited page. The Works Cited entry appears as follows:
- "Climate Impacts." Union of Concerned Scientists . 2022. www.ucsusa.org/climate/impacts. Accessed 24 Mar. 2022.
If the title of the work begins with a quotation mark, such as a title that refers to another work, that quote or quoted title can be used as the shortened title. The single quotation marks must be included in the parenthetical, rather than the double quotation.
Page numbers are always required, but additional information can help literary scholars, who may have a different edition of a classic work, like Marx and Engels's The Communist Manifesto .
In these cases, give the page number from your edition (making sure the edition is listed in your Works Cited page, of course) followed by a semicolon, and then the appropriate abbreviations for volume (vol.), book (bk.), part (pt.), chapter (ch.), section (sec.), or paragraph (par.). For example:
- Marx and Engels described human history as marked by class struggles (79; ch. 1).
When you cite a work that appears inside a larger source (for instance, an article in a periodical or an essay in a collection), cite the author of the internal source (i.e., the article or essay). For example, to cite Albert Einstein's article "A Brief Outline of the Theory of Relativity," which was published in Nature in 1921, you might write something like this:
- Relativity's theoretical foundations can be traced to earlier work by Faraday and Maxwell (Einstein 782).
For a source with two authors, list the authors’ last names in the text or in the parenthetical citation:
- Best and Marcus argue that one should read a text for what it says on its surface, rather than looking for some hidden meaning (9).
- The authors claim that surface reading looks at what is “evident, perceptible, apprehensible in texts” (Best and Marcus 9).
For a source with three or more authors, list only the first author’s last name, and replace the additional names with et al (which means "and others")
- According to Franck et al., “Current agricultural policies in the U.S. are contributing to the poor health of Americans” (327).
- The authors claim that one cause of obesity in the United States is government-funded farm subsidies (Franck et al. 327).
If you cite more than one work by an author, include a shortened title for the particular work from which you are quoting to distinguish it from the others. Put short titles of books in italics and short titles of articles in quotation marks.
Citing two articles by the same author:
- Lightenor has argued that computers are not useful tools for small children ("Too Soon" 38), though he has acknowledged elsewhere that early exposure to computer games does lead to better small motor skill development in a child's second and third year ("Hand-Eye Development" 17).
Citing two books by the same author:
- Murray states that writing is "a process" that "varies with our thinking style" ( Write to Learn 6). Additionally, Murray argues that the purpose of writing is to "carry ideas and information from the mind of one person into the mind of another" ( A Writer Teaches Writing 3).
**Additionally, if the author's name is not mentioned in the sentence, format your citation with the author's name followed by a comma, followed by a shortened title of the work, and, when appropriate, the page number(s):
- Visual studies, because it is such a new discipline, may be "too easy" (Elkins, "Visual Studies" 63).
If you cite from different volumes of a multivolume work, always include the volume number followed by a colon. Put a space after the colon, then provide the page number(s). (If you only cite from one volume, provide only the page number in parentheses.)
- . . . as Quintilian wrote in Institutio Oratoria (1: 14-17).
In your first parenthetical citation referencing the bible, you want to make clear which bible you're using (and underline or italicize the title), as each version varies in its translation, followed by book (do not italicize or underline), chapter, and verse. For example:
- Ezekiel saw "what seemed to be four living creatures," each with faces of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle ( New Jerusalem Bible , Ezek. 1.5-10).
If future references are to the same edition of the bible you’re using, list only the book, chapter, and verse in the parenthetical citation:
- John of Patmos echoes this passage when describing his vision (Rev. 4.6-8).
For electronic and Internet sources, follow the following guidelines:
- Include in the text the first item that appears in the Work Cited entry that corresponds to the citation (e.g. author name, article name, website name, film name).
- Do not provide paragraph numbers or page numbers based on your Web browser’s print preview function.
- Unless you must list the Web site name in the signal phrase in order to get the reader to the appropriate entry, do not include URLs in-text. Only provide partial URLs such as when the name of the site includes, for example, a domain name, like CNN.com or Forbes.com, as opposed to writing out http://www.cnn.com or http://www.forbes.com.
- One online film critic stated that Fitzcarraldo "has become notorious for its near-failure and many obstacles" (Taylor, “Fitzcarraldo”)
- << Previous: MLA - 9th ed.
- Next: MLA Works Cited List - The Basics >>
- Last Updated: Aug 13, 2024 11:45 AM
- URL: https://library.seattleu.edu/guides/citation
MLA In-text Citations and Sample Essay 9th Edition
Listing your sources at the end of your essay in the Works Cited is only the first step in complete and effective documentation. Proper citation of sources is a two-part process . You must also cite, in the body of your essay, the source your paraphrased information or where directly quoted material came from. These citations within the essay are called in-text citations . You must cite all quoted, paraphrased, or summarized words, ideas, and facts from sources. Without in-text citations, you are in danger of plagiarism , even if you have listed your sources at the end of the essay. In-text citations point the reader to the sources’ information in the works cited page, so the in-text citation should be the first item listed in the source’s citation on the works cited page, which is usually the author’s last name (or the title if there is no author) and the page number, if provided.
Two Ways to Cite Your Sources In-text
Parenthetical citation.
Cite your source in parentheses at the end of quoted or paraphrased material.
Example with a page number: In regards to paraphrasing, "It is important to remember to use in-text citations for your paraphrased information, as well as your directly quoted material" (Habib 7).
Example without a page number : Paraphrasing is "often the best choice because direct quotes should be reserved for source material that is especially well-written in style and/or clarity" (Ruiz).
Signal Phrase
Within the sentence, through the use of a "signal phrase" which signals to the reader the specific source the idea or quote came from. Include the page number(s) in parentheses at the end of the sentence, if provided.
Example with a page number: According to Habib, "It is important to remember to use in-text citations for your paraphrased information, as well as your directly quoted material" (7).
Example without a page number: According to Ruiz, paraphrasing is "often the best choice because direct quotes should be reserved for source material that is especially well-written in style and/or clarity."
*See our handout "Signal Phrases" for more examples and information on effective ways to use signal phrases for in-text citations.
![](http://sektorel.online/777/templates/cheerup/res/banner1.gif)
Do you need to include a page number in your in-text citation?
Printed materials such as books, magazines, journals, or internet and digital sources with PDF files that show an actual printed page number need to have a page number in the citation.
Internet and digital sources with a continuously scrolling page without a page number do not need a page number in the citation.
Commonly used in-text citations in parentheses
Type of Source | Parenthetical In-text Citation |
---|---|
One author with page number | (Blake 70) |
One author with multiple works | (Harris, 13-14) |
Two authors, no page number | (McGrath and Dowd) |
Three or more authors with page number | (Gooden et al. 445) |
No author, no page number | ("Cheating")[First word(s) of the title of the article] |
Two sources each with one author and page number | (Jones 42; Haller 57) |
A person quoted in another work | (qtd. in Lathrop and Foss 163) |
Video or audio sources | ("Across the Divide" 00:06:25) |
Government source | (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) |
Notes on Quotes
Block quotation format.
When using long quotations that are over four lines of prose or over three lines of poetry in length, you will need to use block quotation format. Block format is indented one inch from the margin (you can hit the "tab" button twice to move it one inch). Additionally, block quotes do not use quotation marks, and the parenthetical citation comes after the period of the last sentence. Please see the following sample essay for an example block quote.
Signal Phrase Examples and Ideas
Please see the following sample essay for different kinds of signal phrases and parenthetical in-text citations, which correspond with the sample Works Cited page at the end. The Writing Center also has a handout on signal phrases with many different verb options.
Learn more about the MLA Works Cited page by reviewing this handout .
For information on STLCC's academic integrity policy, check out this website .
Penn State University Libraries
Mla quick citation guide.
- In-text Citation
- Citing Generative AI
- Citing Web Pages and Social Media
- Citing Articles
- Citing Books
- Other formats
- MLA Style Quiz
Using In-text Citation
Include an in-text citation when you refer to, summarize, paraphrase, or quote from another source. For every in-text citation in your paper, there must be a corresponding entry in your reference list.
MLA in-text citation style uses the author's last name and the page number from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken, for example: (Smith 163). If the source does not use page numbers, do not include a number in the parenthetical citation: (Smith).
For more information on in-text citation, see the MLA Style Center .
Example paragraph with in-text citation
A few researchers in the linguistics field have developed training programs designed to improve native speakers' ability to understand accented speech (Derwing et al. 246; Thomas 15). Their training techniques are based on the research described above indicating that comprehension improves with exposure to non-native speech. Derwing and others conducted their training with students preparing to be social workers, but note that other professionals who work with non-native speakers could benefit from a similar program (258).
Works Cited List
Derwing, Tracey M., et al. "Teaching Native Speakers to Listen to Foreign-accented Speech." Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, vol. 23, no. 4, 2002, pp. 245-259.
Thomas, Holly K. Training Strategies for Improving Listeners' Comprehension of Foreign-accented Speech. University of Colorado, Boulder, 2004.
Citing Web Pages In Text
Cite web pages in text as you would any other source, using the author if known. If the author is not known, use the title as the in-text citation.
Your in-text citation should lead your reader to the corresponding entry in the reference list. Below are examples of using in-text citation with web pages.
Entire website with author: In-text citation Parents play an important role in helping children learn techniques for coping with bullying (Kraizer).
Works cited entry Kraizer, Sherryll. Safe Child. Coalition for Children, 2011, www.safechild.org.
Web page with no author: In-text citation The term Nittany Lion was coined by Penn State football player Joe Mason in 1904 ("All Things Nittany").
Works cited entry "All Things Nittany." About Penn State. Penn State University, 2006, www.psu.edu/ur/about/nittanymascot.html.
General Guidelines
In MLA style the author's name can be included either in the narrative text of your paper, or in parentheses following the reference to the source.
Author's name part of narrative:
Gass and Varonis found that the most important element in comprehending non-native speech is familiarity with the topic (163).
Author's name in parentheses:
One study found that the most important element in comprehending non-native speech is familiarity with the topic (Gass and Varonis 163).
Group as author: (American Psychological Association 123)
Multiple works: (separate each work with semi-colons)
Research shows that listening to a particular accent improves comprehension of accented speech in general (Gass and Varonis 143; Thomas 24).
Direct quote:
One study found that “the listener's familiarity with the topic of discourse greatly facilitates the interpretation of the entire message” (Gass and Varonis 85).
Gass and Varonis found that “the listener’s familiarity with the topic of discourse greatly facilitates the interpretation of the entire message” (85).
Note: For quotations that are more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, display quotations as an indented block of text (one inch from left margin) and omit quotation marks. Place your parenthetical citation at the end of the block of text, after the final punctuation mark.
In addition to awareness-raising, practicing listening to accented speech has been shown to improve listening comprehension. This article recommends developing listening training programs for library faculty and staff, based on research from the linguistics and language teaching fields. Even brief exposure to accented speech can help listeners improve their comprehension, thereby improving the level of service to international patrons. (O'Malley 19)
Works by Multiple Authors
When citing works by multiple authors, always spell out the word "and." When a source has three or more authors, only the first one shown in the source is normally given followed by et al.
One author: (Field 399)
Works Cited entry: Field, John. "Intelligibility and the Listener: The Role of Lexical Stress." TESOL Quarterly , vol. 39, no. 3, 2005, pp. 399-423.
Two authors: (Gass and Varonis 67)
Works Cited entry: Gass, Susan, and Evangeline M. Varonis. "The Effect of Familiarity on the Comprehensibility of Nonnative Speech." Language Learning , vol. 34, no. 1, 1984, pp. 65-89.
Three or more authors: (Munro et al. 70)
Works Cited entry: Munro, Murray J., et al. "Salient Accents, Covert Attitudes: Consciousness-raising for Pre-service Second Language Teachers." Prospect , vol. 21, no. 1, 2006, pp. 67-79.
- << Previous: Overview
- Next: Citing Generative AI >>
- Last Updated: Feb 14, 2024 8:47 AM
- URL: https://guides.libraries.psu.edu/mlacitation
![how to in text cite essays mla Excelsior OWL](https://owl.excelsior.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/logo-owl-new-branding-change.png)
an Excelsior University site
MLA In-Text Citations
Mla citations in the body of your paper.
MLA citations follow specific conventions that distinguish them from other styles. In-text citations are also sometimes known as “parenthetical citations” because they are enclosed in parentheses. Most often, the author’s last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in parentheses at the end of the sentence.
If you use the name of the author to set up your quote or paraphrase, mention the full author’s name the first time in the sentence; thereafter use only the last name. Then put the page number without p. or pp. in the parentheses at the end of the sentence.
Page numbers should appear as they do in the source. If the source is only one page, do not add a page number in the citation. Examples of how numbers could appear in citations include 422, xxvi, and D32.
If other location types are used within a citation, they are listed often using abbreviations. The table below shows some location options with the appropriate abbreviations. When using any of these location types, add a comma within the citation after the author’s name. Only use the location type if they are included in the source. For example, do not use line or paragraph numbers if they are not included in the source referenced.
Location | Appropriate Abbreviation |
---|---|
chapter(s) | ch. or chs. |
line | Do no abbreviate. Write out line or lines. |
paragraph(s) | par. or pars. |
scene | sc. |
section(s) | sec. or secs. |
If an ebook is used, use page numbers that are consistent across devices. Chapter numbers are also acceptable. However, do not use location numbers as they can vary in different devices.
If you need to cite more than one source in your in-text citation, you should use a semicolon to separate the sources.
It’s important to remember, in MLA style, each citation in your text must have a complete bibliographic entry in your Works Cited page, so, if readers want to go to the original source, they can!
The examples above are just a few of the most common examples of in-text citations in MLA style. The following pages provide more detailed information about in-text citing in MLA.
Write | Read | Educators
Grumble... Applaud... Please give us your feedback!
Explore more
Check out other great resources:
- The MLA Style Center provides more information on in-text citing.
- Intern’s Corner: Referencing and Citing Sources Part V: MLA Style — a blog post in Hoot – The Excelsior OWL Blog — contains an overview of the OWL’s MLA content.
- Citation & Documentation »
- MLA Style »
- MLA In-Text Citations »
A Guide to In-Text Citations: APA, MLA, and Chicago
Remembering to cite your sources can be hard, but don’t forget you also have to format them according to the style guide you’re using. MLA, APA, and Chicago all have different methods for in-text citations, so you may have to change your style from paper to paper. It can be a lot to keep track of.
In this guide, we explain how to do in-text citations for MLA, APA, and Chicago, as well as discuss the difference between parenthetical and narrative citations, the two types of in-text citations. But first, let’s take a closer look at what an in-text citation is and when you need it.
Give your writing extra polish Grammarly helps you communicate confidently Write with Grammarly
What is an in-text citation?
An in-text citation is a source citation in academic writing that is placed directly in the body text, typically at the end of the related sentence, clause, or phrase. This is an alternative style to footnotes , which cite sources at the bottom of a page, or endnotes , which cite sources at the end of a section, chapter, or entire work.
In-text citations give basic source information like the author, page number, or publication year, but not details like the publisher. The complete details for a source instead go in the full citation in the bibliography at the end of the work.
Exactly which information is required for in-text citations varies whether you’re using APA , MLA , or Chicago style . However, if you’re confused about how to write your in-text citations, you can use Grammarly auto-citations or enter your source in our free citation generator to create citations for you.
Parenthetical vs. narrative citations
There are two types of in-text citations: parenthetical citations and narrative citations.
Parenthetical citations contain only enough information to identify the source, such as the author’s name, placed within parentheses (like this). Interested readers can then find the full citations in the bibliography if they’re interested in tracking down the source.
The character describes his own sacrifices as “a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done” (Dickens, 1859, p. 330).
Narrative citations are when the source details are mentioned directly in the body text. However, any information not included in the text must still be included in a parenthetical citation, so narrative citations and parenthetical citations are often used together.
As Charles Dickens wrote in his 1859 novel A Tale of Two Cities , “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done” (p. 330).
When is an in-text citation required?
Generally speaking, a source citation is required in academic writing anytime an idea is presented that is not the author’s own. You can use a single in-text citation for long blocks of text like paragraphs, as long as all the information comes from the same source and location (i.e., the same page number or page range).
In-text citations are specifically required for papers written in the APA and MLA formats. If you’re using Chicago, you have a choice between in-text citations, footnotes, or endnotes, although the author still must use one of those to cite their sources.
How to do in-text citations: APA format
An APA in-text citation is written in the author-date style , which includes up to two authors’ last names and the year of publication. If the citation refers to a specific passage, like a direct quote, also include the location, such as a page number or time stamp, with the correct abbreviation ( p. for page , pp. for pages , and paras. for paragraphs ). Separate information with commas.
(Last Name, Year)
(Last Name, Year, p. #)
Example of an in-text citation: APA format
… or to put it another way, “unless we recognize our cognitive limitations, we will be enslaved by them” (Aronson, 1972, p. 161).
… or as Elliot Aronson wrote, “unless we recognize our cognitive limitations, we will be enslaved by them” (1972, p. 161).
How to do in-text citations: MLA format
While an APA in-text citation uses the year of publication, an MLA in-text citation requires only the author’s last name as well as a page number (if available). No commas are needed to separate the information, nor are abbreviations required for words like page .
(Last Name)
(Last Name #)
Example of an in-text citation: MLA format
. . . To summarize, “in every philosophy there is a point where the philosopher’s ‘conviction’ steps onto the stage” (Nietzsche 9).
. . . As Nietzsche summarized, “in every philosophy there is a point where the philosopher’s ‘conviction’ steps onto the stage” (9).
How to do in-text citations: Chicago format
Remember that in the Chicago format, in-text citations are optional—unlike in APA and MLA, where they are required. If you choose to use in-text citations instead of footnotes or endnotes, Chicago in-text citations follow an author-date system with the year of publication, just like citations in APA do. Also, like APA, Chicago in-text citations only use page numbers for direct quotes.
However, Chicago’s author-date format follows a couple of different rules. First, no abbreviations are needed for words like pages . Second, commas are used only to separate the year from page numbers but not to separate the author from the year.
Note that for personal communications, like an in-person interview or citing AI in Chicago , you also include the day and month of the conversation.
(Last Name Year)
(Last Name Year, #)
Example of an in-text citation: Chicago format
. . . Paranoia was common with the Turkish emirs, because “rare indeed was the emir who died in bed” (Maalouf 1984, 22).
. . . Paranoia was common with the Turkish emirs, because as Maalouf puts it, “rare indeed was the emir who died in bed” (1984, 22).
In-text citation FAQs
An in-text citation is a source citation in academic writing that is placed directly in the body text, typically at the end of the related sentence, clause, or phrase. This is an alternative style to footnotes or endnotes.
In-text citations are required when writing papers in either the APA or MLA formats, although they are optional for the Chicago format. Generally for all formats, a citation is required every time you present an idea that is not your own in a formal piece of writing.
How does a parenthetical citation differ from a narrative citation?
Parenthetical citations place the source’s information within parentheses, while narrative citations credit the source directly in the body text as part of the narrative. Any information not mentioned in the narrative citation, such as a page number or year of publication, must still be written in a parenthetical citation.
![how to in text cite essays mla](https://contenthub-static.grammarly.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Sentence-flow-760x400.png)
- Skip to content
- Skip to navigation
- Skip to footer
![how to in text cite essays mla University of Central Arkansas Logo](https://uca.edu/cwc/wp-content/themes/ursidae/images/logo.png)
Center for Writing and Communication
- Campus Life
- Virtual Tour
- Tip Sheets & Video Tutorials
- APA Paper Structure
- APA Terminology
- APA Lists and Headings
- APA In-Text Citations
- APA In-Text Citation Models
- APA Reference Page
- APA Reference Models
- MLA Terminology
MLA In-Text Citations
- MLA Works Cited
- Chicago Style Models
- Chicago Style Terminology
- Writing Across the Curriculum
- Communication Across the Curriculum
- Job Opportunities
- Faculty and Staff
- CWC Newsletter
- Writing Centers Research Project
MLA style uses in-text citations to give credit to authors when paraphrasing or quoting their ideas. In-text citations include two parts, the lead-in (or signal) phrase and the parenthetical citation.
The lead-in phrase is an important element of the in-text citation to include when integrating sources into your own writing. As stated above, when lead-in phrases are left out, students are sometimes accused of plagiarism because it is not clear where a paraphrase has begun.
As in the example above, if you inserted a quotation into an essay, and then you spent two paragraphs and part of a third explaining the quotation in terms of your main argument and showing why it supports that point of view. What will happen if you then include a paraphrase that is several sentences long without the lead-in phrase? Again, if you don’t include a lead-in phrase, the reader will not know you have begun paraphrasing your source and this could lead to accusations of plagiarism, even if unintentional.
When you’re working on your paper, it’s best to set up your Works Cited page before starting on in-text citations. Click here for help with an MLA Works Cited page.
Models for In-Text Citations
Author, title, and page number known
Lyndsay Murray, organic chemist at the University of Iowa, writes that students learn how important chemistry is to society in the Organic Chemistry I (18).
An organic chemist at the University of Iowa writes that students learn how important chemistry is to society in the Organic Chemistry I (Murray 18).
Multiple authors (3 or less)
The authors discuss effective ways to incorporate sources into a paper (Graff, Birkenstein, and Durst 3).
Multiple authors (4 or more)
The authors “examine women’s ways of knowing and describe five different perspectives from which women view reality” (Belenky et al. 3).
Same authors, multiple works
The lonely aura becomes even more pronounced as he says, “the loneliness includes me unawares” (Frost, “Desert Places” 1405). Elsewhere, though, Frost embraces the loneliness (“Stopping by Woods” 1403).
Author known, publication electronic without page numbers
Lyndsay Murray, organic chemist at the University of Iowa, writes that students learn how important chemistry is to society in the Organic Chemistry I.
NOTE: In the new MLA format, paragraph numbers are no longer used for publications without page numbers. If the paragraphs are numbered, you would include (para. 10) to indicate the paragraph. The paragraphs are not numbered in this document; therefore, this paraphrase does not require a citation. However, to be on the safe side, you might want to include the chapter or section title.
An organic chemist at the University of Iowa writes that students learn how important chemistry is to society in Organic Chemistry I (Murray).
Author unknown
Refer to the title in the absence of an author.
According to an article in Newsweek entitled “Getting the Most Out of College,” students learn how important chemistry is to society in the course Organic Chemistry I (18).
Another method for documenting when the author is unknown
According to an article in Newsweek, students learn how important chemistry is to society in the course Organic Chemistry I (“Getting the Most” 18).
NOTE: Abbreviate the title to the first few words in your parenthetical reference. If you were providing the title of a book or larger independent work, it would be italicized.
Referencing the Bible
Billy Budd’s last words are very reminiscent of Jesus’ last words “…Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing…” ( New International Version , Luke 23.34).
Multiple Citations in One Sentence
The stars are separated by “empty spaces”, not “lovely, dark, and deep” sky (Frost, “Desert Places” 1405; Frost, “Stopping by Woods” 1403).
A Work from an Anthology
Cite it as if from a book, using the page number from the anthology.
Frost captures muffled beauty by describing how “the only other sound’s the sweep / Of easy wind and downy flake” (“Stopping by Woods” 1403).
Indirect Source
A source is considered indirect when an author refers to another author’s publication. For example, let’s say you’re reading a book on grammar written by Marianne Celce-Murcia and Diane Larsen-Freeman. The two authors then talk about an article written by another author. You would format your citation as follows:
They further state, “There are two ‘zero’ articles in English. Andrew Chesterman reminds us that one occurs with nonspecific or generic noncount and plural nouns and is referred to as the zero article (qtd. In Celce-Murcia and Larsen-Freeman 280).
Celce-Murcia and Larsen-Freeman would be the authors listed in the works cited as with any other publication.
Quotes that run more than 4 typed lines
NOTE: The quotation begins on a separate line after the lead-in phrase, is indented, does not use quotation marks, locates the parenthetical citation after the period, and is continuously double-spaced like the rest of the paper would be.
Lyndsay Murray, organic chemist at the University of Iowa, writes:
I have had a fascination with chemistry ever since I can remember. I think my first experience with chemistry happened when I was four years old, and my mother gave me a handful of baking powder and told me to pour vinegar over it to see what would happen. Magic. I’ve been hooked ever since. (26)
eBooks: Location Numbers vs. Page Numbers If you’re quoting or paraphrasing from an eBook on a device such as a Kindle, you should be aware that location numbers will vary from device to device and depending on whether you enlarge or shrink the text. So if the digital file only contains location numbers and no page numbers, our recommendation is to use chapter or section titles to indicate approximately where quotations and paraphrased material can be located in the original document.
(Murray “Becoming a Chemist”).
As publishers catch up with researchers’ need for adequate citation, more and more are including the page numbers that match the print version. So if your eBook contains page numbers, follow the rules for quoting printed material. Your works cited entry should indicate the medium as “Kindle file” or “eReader file.” See the example in the section below.
Image from the Web
The full citation goes in the caption for the image.
Shah, Akheil. Graffiti Art in Dusseldorf, Germany. 2010. Akheil Shah Portfolio. Web. 3 April 2012.
Contact Information
Thompson Hall 109
2023-2024 Hours:
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m.
Tuesday & Thursday Evenings
6:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m.
Phone: (501) 450-5123
Email: [email protected]
Subscribe to our newsletter !
Site Search
People search.
UCA dedicates itself to academic vitality, integrity, and diversity. University of Central Arkansas · 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway, AR 72035 · (501) 450-5000 UCA is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission . Report Web Accessibility Issue | Concerned About a Student? | Privacy Copyright © 2024 · All Rights Reserved
Return to Top
![how to in text cite essays mla Banner](https://libapps.s3.amazonaws.com/accounts/27977/images/banner.png)
Citations - MLA: In-Text Citations - Quotations & Paraphrasing
- Advertisements
- Artificial Intelligence: AI
- Books, eBooks, & Pamphlets
- Class Notes & Presentations
- Encyclopedias & Dictionaries (Reference Works)
- Government Documents
- Images, Charts, Graphs, Maps & Tables
- Journal Articles
- Magazine Articles
- Newspaper Articles
- Pesonal Communication (Interviews, Emails, & Telephone)
- Religious Texts
- Social Media
- Videos & DVDs
- When Creating Digital Assignments
- When Information Is Missing
- Works in a Foreign Language
- Works Quoted in Another Source (Secondary Source)
- In-Text Citations - Quotations & Paraphrasing
- Formatting - Essay, Works Cited, Appendix, & Sample Paper
- Annotated Bibliography
On This Page
- About In-text Citations
Paraphrasing
- In-Text Citation for One, Two, or More Authors/Editors
Unknown Author
Repeated use of sources, long quotations.
- In-Text Citation for More Than One Source
Citing a Source that you Found in Another Source (Secondary Source)
Order of authors, physician credentials, about in-text citations.
In MLA, in-text citations are inserted in the body of your research paper to briefly document the source of your information. Brief in-text citations point the reader to the full citation on the works cited list at the end of the paper.
Create in-text citations for the following:
- Direct quotes
If you're using information from a single source more than once in succession (i.e., no other sources referred to in between), you can use a simplified in-text citation.
Cell biology is an area of science that focuses on the structure and function of cells (Smith 15). It revolves around the idea that the cell is a "fundamental unit of life" (17). Many important scientists have contributed to the evolution of cell biology. Mattias Jakob Schleiden and Theodor Schwann, for example, were scientists who formulated cell theory in 1838 (20).
Note: If using this simplified in-text citation creates ambiguity regarding the source being referred to, use the full in-text citation format.
What Is a Long Quotation?
If your quotation extends to more than four lines as you're typing your essay, it is a long quotation.
Rules for Long Quotations
There are 4 rules that apply to long quotations that are different from regular quotations:
- The line before your long quotation, when you're introducing the quote, usually ends with a colon.
- The long quotation is indented half an inch from the rest of the text, so it looks like a block of text.
- There are no quotation marks around the quotation.
- The period at the end of the quotation comes before your in-text citation as opposed to after , as it does with regular quotations.
Example of a Long Quotation
At the end of Lord of the Flies the boys are struck with the realization of their behaviour:
The tears began to flow and sobs shook him. He gave himself up to them now for the first time on the island; great, shuddering spasms of grief that seemed to wrench his whole body. His voice rose under the black smoke before the burning wreckage of the island; and infected by that emotion, the other little boys began to shake and sob too . (Golding 186)
Direct Quote - Add an in-text citation at the end of the quote with the author name and page number:
Mother-infant attachment has been a leading topic of developmental research since John Bowlby found that "children raised in institutions were deficient in emotional and personality development" (Hunt 358).
Authors Name in the Sentence & with a Direct Quote - If you refer to the author's name in a sentence you do not have to include the name in the in-text citation, instead include the page number (if there is one) at the end of the quotation or paraphrased section. For example:
Hunt explains that mother-infant attachment has been a leading topic of developmental research since John Bowlby found that "children raised in institutions were deficient in emotional and personality development" (358).
No Page Numbers & with a Direct Quote - When you quote from electronic sources that do not provide page numbers (like Web pages), cite the author name only.
"Three phases of the separation response: protest, despair, and detachment" (Garelli).
Note: The period goes outside the brackets, at the end of your in-text citation.
In-Text Citation For One, Two, or More Authors/Editors
Author Known:
- "Here's a direct quote" (Smith 8).
Number of Authors/Editors | In-Text Citation Example |
---|---|
One | (Author's Last Name Page Number) (Lee 5) |
Two | (Author's Last Name and Author's Last Name Page Number) Example: (Daristotle and Case 57) |
Three or more | (Author's Last Name et al. Page Number) Example: (Daristotle et al. 57) |
In-Text Citation For More Than One Source
If you would like to cite more than one source within the same in-text citation, simply record the in-text citations as normal and separate them with a semi-colon.
(Smith 42; Bennett 71).
( It Takes Two ; Brock 43).
Note: The sources within the in-text citation do not need to be in alphabetical order for MLA style.
When creating an in-text citation or full citation, the authors should be listed in the original order displayed on the item (book, article, ...).
Do not include academic credentials (e.g., MD, MPH, PhD,. DDS) when citing doctors in the in-text or full citation.
The writer may refer to the physician by Dr. (name), when writing a paraphrase or inserting a direct quotation, although, it is not required.
Using the medical credential in the sentence:
Dr. Higgins, said the reason behind the complication was "direct quote here" (257).
Dr. Price realized that nutrition was tied to health outcomes and encountered this observation in various regions of the world during his travels (390).
Omitting the medical credential from the sentence:
He sad the reason behind the complication was "direct quote here" (Higgins 257).
Price observed that nutrition was tied to health outcomes and encountered this in various regions of the world during his travels (390).
When you write information or ideas from a source in your own words, cite the source by adding an in-text citation at the end of the paraphrased portion.
Paraphrasing from One Page
Include a full in-text citation with the author name and page number (if there is one). For example:
Mother-infant attachment became a leading topic of developmental research following the publication of John Bowlby's studies (Hunt 65).
Hunt discussed mother-infant attachment becoming a leading topic of developmental research following the publication of John Bowlby's studies (65).
Paraphrasing from Multiple Pages
If the paraphrased information/idea is from several pages, include them. For example:
Mother-infant attachment became a leading topic of developmental research following the publication of John Bowlby's studies (Hunt 50, 55, 65-71).
Author Unknown:
- If the author's name is not given, then use the first word or words of the title. Follow the same formatting that was used in the works cited list, such as quotation marks. This is a paraphrase ("Trouble" 22).
- Where you'd normally put the author's last name, instead use the first one, two, or three words from the title. Don't count initial articles like "A", "An" or "The". You should provide enough words to make it clear which work you're referring to from your Works Cited list.
- If the title in the Works Cited list is in italics, italicize the words from the title in the in-text citation.
- If the title in the Works Cited list is in quotation marks, put quotation marks around the words from the title in the in-text citation.
( Cell Biology 12)
("Nursing" 12)
Sometimes an author of a book, article or website will mention another person’s work by using a quotation or paraphrased idea from that source. ( This may be called a secondary source.)
For example, the Kirkey article you are reading includes a quotation by Smith that you would like to include in your essay.
- The basic rule: in your Works Cited and in-text citation you will still cite Kirkey NOT Smith.
- A dd the words “qtd. in” to your in-text citation.
Examples of in-text citations :
According to a study by Smith (qtd. in Kirkey) 42% of doctors would refuse to perform legal euthanasia.
Smith (qtd. in Kirkey) states that “even if euthanasia was legal, 42% of doctors would be against this method of assisted dying” (A.10).
Example of Works Cited list citation:
Kirkey, Susan. "Euthanasia." The Montreal Gazette , 9 Feb. 2013, p. A.10. Canadian Newsstand Major Dailies.
- << Previous: Works Quoted in Another Source (Secondary Source)
- Next: Formatting - Essay, Works Cited, Appendix, & Sample Paper >>
- Last Updated: May 31, 2024 10:37 AM
- URL: https://libguides.lahc.edu/mla
![how to in text cite essays mla SMU Libraries logo](https://www.smu.edu/-/media/Site/Libraries/logos/Libraries_Promo_digitalonly_W.png)
- SMU Libraries
- Scholarship & Research
- Teaching & Learning
- Bridwell Library
- DeGolyer Library
- Duda Family Business Library
- Fondren Library
- Hamon Arts Library
- Underwood Law Library
- Fort Burgwin Library
- Exhibits & Digital Collections
- SMU Scholar
- Special Collections & Archives
- Connect With Us
- Research Guides by Subject
- How Do I . . . ? Guides
- Find Your Librarian
- Writing Support
MLA Style: In-text citation
- Works Cited: Books
- Works Cited: Articles
- Works Cited: Other web content
- In-text citation
Every in-text citation must correspond with a full citation on the Works Cited page, and vice versa. You can't include a source in your references list if you don't also cite it in your paper.
Parenthetical Citations
Place at the end of a sentence, before the ending punctuation mark.
- One author: Citations help readers follow your research... (Naess 25).
- Two authors: Researchers agree that citing is important... (Miller and Jones 63).
- Three or more authors: Discussions are ongoing on this topic... (Hamilton et al. 498).
- No author and no page number: Researchers discuss the importance... ("Sustainable Management").
Narrative Citations
If preferred, include the author or title of the cited work in the signal phrase by which you introduce the content. Then, the parentheses only contains the page number.
- One author: Naess noted the importance of... (25).
- Two authors: Miller and Jones found that... (63).
- Three or more authors: Hamilton et al. argue that... (246).
- No author and no page number: The article "Sustainable Management" discusses...
Short Quotes
For short quotations, which consist of four typed lines or fewer of prose and three lines of verse, add quotation marks around the words and incorporate the quote into your own text. Include the author and page number in the parenthetical citation.
- According to Johnson, citations are "breadcrumbs that all researchers can follow” (725).
- Researchers should "follow citation guidelines as closely as possible" to avoid plagiarism (Rivera 47).
Block Quotes
For longer quotations of more than 4 typed lines of text or more than 3 lines of poetic verse, format the quote in its own paragraph, with the entire section indented 1/2". Do not use quotation marks around it, and include the standard citation information at the end.
For example, if you wished to quote a longer section from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland , that would be formatted as a block quote:
When the rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat pocket, and looked at it and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat pocket or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge. (Carroll 10)
Multiple Sentences in a Paragraph from the Same Source
When borrowing more than one time from the same source in a single paragraph, there are multiple options for citing. You can give a parenthetical citation at the end of each sentence. If the reader can easily determine that the same source is being cited, then use of the page number alone is sufficient.
Another option would be using a single parenthetical citation after the last borrowed source.
Keep in mind that you may need to reintroduce a source, either in prose or in parenthetical citation, for clarity, such as after citing a different source or including your own ideas.
- << Previous: Works Cited: Other web content
- Last Updated: Aug 14, 2024 11:11 AM
- URL: https://guides.smu.edu/mla
- CSN Libraries
- Library Guides
ENG 101 - O'Brien
- Citing in MLA
- Useful Databases at CSN Libraries
- Choosing a Research Topic
- How To Search Databases
- Verifying Sources (CRAAP Method)
- Avoiding Plagiarism
MLA Style Guide and Examples
The Modern Language Association uses the MLA Handbook to provide guidelines on MLA Style, which is the citation style you will be using in this class to format your papers and cite your sources. Included on this page are important documents and links that will help you to use MLA properly.
New MLA 9 rules state that the citation should NOT include http:\\
For example, https://roadtrippers.com/the-ultimate-guide-route-66/ should be changed to roadtrippers.com/the-ultimate-guide-route-66/
- MLA 9th Edition
- In-text Quotes
- Works Cited Examples
- Purdue OWL Use this to double-check your citations.
Additional Support
· The CSN Centers for Academic Success is offering online tutoring to CSN Students through Brainfuse .
Brainfuse offers free online tutoring, writing services and homework assistance 24/7. Certified Brainfuse tutors provide live, on-demand tutoring and assignment help in a variety of subjects. Brainfuse tutors meet students where they are at in order to effectively help students of all skill levels. To access services, students can log into their GoCSN account and then into Canvas. Students can choose a listed course on the left and then click on Brainfuse Online Tutoring.
For more information, watch the video below:
- << Previous: Home
- Next: Useful Databases at CSN Libraries >>
- Last Updated: Aug 19, 2024 11:15 AM
- URL: https://libguides.csn.edu/c.php?g=1417553
- Free Tools for Students
- MLA Citation Generator
Free MLA Citation Generator
Generate accurate citations in MLA format automatically, with MyBib!
![how to in text cite essays mla MLA 9 guidebook cover](https://pages.mybib.com/_assets/images/mla-9th-edition.jpg)
😕 What is an MLA Citation Generator?
An MLA citation generator is a software tool designed to automatically create academic citations in the Modern Language Association (MLA) citation format. The generator will take information such as document titles, author, and URLs as in input, and output fully formatted citations that can be inserted into the Works Cited page of an MLA-compliant academic paper.
The citations on a Works Cited page show the external sources that were used to write the main body of the academic paper, either directly as references and quotes, or indirectly as ideas.
👩🎓 Who uses an MLA Citation Generator?
MLA style is most often used by middle school and high school students in preparation for transition to college and further education. Ironically, MLA style is not actually used all that often beyond middle and high school, with APA (American Psychological Association) style being the favored style at colleges across the country.
It is also important at this level to learn why it's critical to cite sources, not just how to cite them.
🙌 Why should I use a Citation Generator?
Writing citations manually is time consuming and error prone. Automating this process with a citation generator is easy, straightforward, and gives accurate results. It's also easier to keep citations organized and in the correct order.
The Works Cited page contributes to the overall grade of a paper, so it is important to produce accurately formatted citations that follow the guidelines in the official MLA Handbook .
⚙️ How do I use MyBib's MLA Citation Generator?
It's super easy to create MLA style citations with our MLA Citation Generator. Scroll back up to the generator at the top of the page and select the type of source you're citing. Books, journal articles, and webpages are all examples of the types of sources our generator can cite automatically. Then either search for the source, or enter the details manually in the citation form.
The generator will produce a formatted MLA citation that can be copied and pasted directly into your document, or saved to MyBib as part of your overall Works Cited page (which can be downloaded fully later!).
MyBib supports the following for MLA style:
⚙️ Styles | MLA 8 & MLA 9 |
---|---|
📚 Sources | Websites, books, journals, newspapers |
🔎 Autocite | Yes |
📥 Download to | Microsoft Word, Google Docs |
![how to in text cite essays mla Image of daniel-elias](https://pages.mybib.com/_assets/images/authors/daniel-elias-head.png)
Daniel is a qualified librarian, former teacher, and citation expert. He has been contributing to MyBib since 2018.
![how to in text cite essays mla Library homepage](https://cdn.libretexts.net/Logos/human_full.png)
- school Campus Bookshelves
- menu_book Bookshelves
- perm_media Learning Objects
- login Login
- how_to_reg Request Instructor Account
- hub Instructor Commons
Margin Size
- Download Page (PDF)
- Download Full Book (PDF)
- Periodic Table
- Physics Constants
- Scientific Calculator
- Reference & Cite
- Tools expand_more
- Readability
selected template will load here
This action is not available.
![how to in text cite essays mla Humanities LibreTexts](https://a.mtstatic.com/@public/production/site_9956/1481233284-logo.png)
1.9.6: Requirements for Parenthetical Citations
- Last updated
- Save as PDF
- Page ID 277549
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)
\( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)
\( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)
\( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)
When using outside sources in your work, it is important to give credit to the original source and provide basic in-text citations also known as parenthetical citations at the end of the sentence that contains that borrowed information. Parenthetical citations may contain the following:
- Author’s name
- Title of the work
- Page numbers
- Paragraphs numbers
What needs to appear in parentheses is based upon how much information you include in the attributive tag and what kind of source is being cited. (Parts of this section are from the Purdue OWL website.)
Here are some examples from the Purdue OWL and the MLA Handbook :
Parenthetical Citations with Author’s Name (print source)
Quote with attributive tag.
18th century Romantic Poet, William Wordsworth was marked by a “spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” (263).
Quote without attributive tag
Romantic poetry is characterized by the “spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings” (Wordsworth 263).
Paraphrase with attributive tag
18th century Romantic Poet, William Wordsworth, extensively explored the role of emotion in the creative process (263).
Matching Works Cited entry
Wordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads. Oxford UP, 1967.
Parenthetical Citations with Author’s Name (online source)
American author and philosopher, Henry David Thoreau wrote, “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived” (par. 16).
Thoreau, Henry David. Walden: an annotated edition. 1999-2009. thoreau.eserver.org/ walden02.html.
Parenthetical Citation for Sources without Authors
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Bipolar Disorder is a “brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy and activity levels” (“Bipolar Disorder”).
Bipolar Disorder is a “brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy and activity levels” (“Bipolar Disorder”).
“Bipolar Disorder.” National Institute of Mental Health, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml.
Parenthetical Citation Exercise
Directions : For each entry, you will do the following. Write the last word of the sentence in each example and then the appropriate parenthetical citation. Then you will create a properly formatted Works Cited page.
- John Muir was an inventor, naturalist, environmental philosopher and wilderness activist. In a letter to his wife, Louisa, he wrote, “Only by going alone in silence, without baggage, can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness.” The quote was obtained from the “John Muir” page on Yosemite National Park’s website at this url: www.nps.gov/yose/learn/histo...lture/muir.htm.
- Surf Snowdonia is a wave pool located in Dolgarrog, Wales, U. K. Its claim to fame is that it’s the first man-made wave pool to host a top professional surfing contest with surfers competing from all over the world. Surf Snowdonia is located in the forested mountains of Wales “once a derelict aluminum factory, it has been transformed into one of the most innovative surfing facilities in the world.” This information and quote was found in an article on the Wavegarden web site, the builders of Surf Snowdonia. The title of the article is “Big Success at World’s First Wavegarden Surfing Contest: Red Bul Unleashed, Surf Snowdonia.” The URL of the web site is http://www.wavegarden.com/ . The article is on the Wavegarden home page.
- What is the difference between water use and water consumption? Water use is the amount of water necessary to function. For example, a manufacturing plant may require 10,000 gallons to run. “Even if the plant returns 95% of that water to the watershed, the plant needs all 10,000 gallons to operate.” This information comes from Paul Reig’s article, “What’s the Difference Between water use and Water Consumption” on the World Resources Institute web site at this url: http://www.wri.org/blog/2013/03/what...er-consumption .
- According to Pablo S. Torre, a sportswriter and columnist for ESPN, 78% of NFL football players will be bankrupt or in financial trouble within two years of retiring. This statistic was taken from the Sports Illustrated article, “How (and Why) Athletes go Broke.” Here is the web site for this article, www.si.com/vault/2009/03/23/1...letes-go-broke.
- According to computer scientists, it’s possible to create an algorithm to predict potential ISIS terrorist attacks. In fact, they have already done it. By tracking the pace of development of a group of ISIS sympathizers, it is possible to predict real-life attacks. This information was taken from the web page, “The Computer Algorithm Might Be Able to Predict the Next ISIS attack.” It can be found on the PBS NewsHour web site at this address: www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/...t-isis-attack/.
Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts
MLA Formatting Quotations
![how to in text cite essays mla OWL logo](https://owl.purdue.edu/images/logos/owllogo_black.png)
Welcome to the Purdue OWL
This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.
Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.
When you directly quote the works of others in your paper, you will format quotations differently depending on their length. Below are some basic guidelines for incorporating quotations into your paper. Please note that all pages in MLA should be double-spaced .
Short quotations
To indicate short quotations (four typed lines or fewer of prose or three lines of verse) in your text, enclose the quotation within double quotation marks. Provide the author and specific page number (in the case of verse, provide line numbers) in the in-text citation, and include a complete reference on the Works Cited page. Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should appear after the parenthetical citation.
Question marks and exclamation points should appear within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted passage, but after the parenthetical citation if they are a part of your text.
For example, when quoting short passages of prose, use the following examples:
When using short (fewer than three lines of verse) quotations from poetry, mark breaks in verse with a slash, ( / ), at the end of each line of verse (a space should precede and follow the slash). If a stanza break occurs during the quotation, use a double slash ( // ).
Long quotations
For quotations that are more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, place quotations in a free-standing block of text and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented 1/2 inch from the left margin while maintaining double-spacing. Your parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark . When quoting verse, maintain original line breaks. (You should maintain double-spacing throughout your essay.)
For example, when citing more than four lines of prose, use the following examples :
Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration: They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)
When citing long sections of poetry (four lines of verse or more), keep formatting as close to the original as possible.
In his poem "My Papa's Waltz," Theodore Roethke explores his childhood with his father:
The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy. We Romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf; My mother's countenance Could not unfrown itself. (qtd. in Shrodes, Finestone, Shugrue 202)
When citing two or more paragraphs, use block quotation format, even if the passage from the paragraphs is less than four lines. If you cite more than one paragraph, the first line of the second paragraph should be indented an extra 1/4 inch to denote a new paragraph:
In "American Origins of the Writing-across-the-Curriculum Movement," David Russell argues,
Writing has been an issue in American secondary and higher education since papers and examinations came into wide use in the 1870s, eventually driving out formal recitation and oral examination. . . .
From its birth in the late nineteenth century, progressive education has wrestled with the conflict within industrial society between pressure to increase specialization of knowledge and of professional work (upholding disciplinary standards) and pressure to integrate more fully an ever-widening number of citizens into intellectually meaningful activity within mass society (promoting social equity). . . . (3)
Adding or omitting words in quotations
If you add a word or words in a quotation, you should put brackets around the words to indicate that they are not part of the original text:
If you omit a word or words from a quotation, you should indicate the deleted word or words by using ellipses, which are three periods ( . . . ) preceded and followed by a space. For example:
Please note that brackets are not needed around ellipses unless they would add clarity.
When omitting words from poetry quotations, use a standard three-period ellipses; however, when omitting one or more full lines of poetry, space several periods to about the length of a complete line in the poem:
![how to in text cite essays mla American Psychological Association](https://apastyle.apa.org/Content/Images/megamenu/images@2x/apa-logo.png)
Basic Principles of Citation
APA Style uses the author–date citation system , in which a brief in-text citation directs readers to a full reference list entry. The in-text citation appears within the body of the paper (or in a table, figure, footnote, or appendix) and briefly identifies the cited work by its author and date of publication. This enables readers to locate the corresponding entry in the alphabetical reference list at the end of the paper.
Each work cited must appear in the reference list, and each work in the reference list must be cited in the text (or in a table, figure, footnote, or appendix).
Both paraphrases and quotations require citations.
The following are guidelines to follow when writing in-text citations:
- Ensure that the spelling of author names and the publication dates in reference list entries match those in the corresponding in-text citations.
- Cite only works that you have read and ideas that you have incorporated into your writing. The works you cite may provide key background information, support or dispute your thesis, or offer critical definitions and data.
- Readers may find a long string of citations difficult to understand, especially if they are using assistive technology such as a screen reader; therefore, include only those citations needed to support your immediate point.
- Cite primary sources when possible, and cite secondary sources sparingly.
- Cite sources to document all facts and figures that you mention that are not common knowledge.
- To cite a specific part of a source , provide an author–date citation for the work plus information about the specific part.
- Even when sources cannot be retrieved (e.g., because they are personal communications ), still credit them in the text (however, avoid using online sources that are no longer recoverable).
Basic principles of citation are covered in the seventh edition APA Style manuals in the Publication Manual Sections 8.1 to 8.36 and the Concise Guide Sections 8.1 to 8.34
![how to in text cite essays mla](https://apastyle.apa.org/images/icon-same-50x50_tcm11-319244_w1024_n.png)
Related handouts
- In-Text Citation Checklist (PDF, 227KB)
- Six Steps to Proper Citation (PDF, 112KB)
From the APA Style blog
![how to in text cite essays mla How to cite your own translations](https://apastyle.apa.org/images/cite-your-own-translations-tile_tcm11-312273_w320_n.jpg)
How to cite your own translations
If you translate a passage from one language into another on your own in your paper, your translation is considered a paraphrase, not a direct quotation.
![how to in text cite essays mla Key takeaways from the Psi Chi webinar So You Need to Write a Literature Review](https://apastyle.apa.org/images/psi-chi-literature-review-webinar-tile_tcm11-304299_w320_n.jpg)
Key takeaways from the Psi Chi webinar So You Need to Write a Literature Review
This blog post describes key tasks in writing an effective literature review and provides strategies for approaching those tasks.
![how to in text cite essays mla image of a laptop with a giant x covering the screen](https://apastyle.apa.org/images/blog-nonrecoverable-sources-tile_tcm11-303013_w320_n.jpg)
How to cite a work with a nonrecoverable source
In most cases, nonrecoverable sources such as personal emails, nonarchived social media livestreams (or deleted and unarchived social media posts), classroom lectures, unrecorded webinars or presentations, and intranet sources should be cited only in the text as personal communications.
![how to in text cite essays mla The “outdated sources” myth](https://apastyle.apa.org/images/blog-outdated-sources-myth-index_tcm11-298544_w160_n.jpg)
The “outdated sources” myth
The “outdated sources” myth is that sources must have been published recently, such as the last 5 to 10 years. There is no timeliness requirement in APA Style.
![how to in text cite essays mla From COVID-19 to demands for social justice: Citing contemporary sources for current events](https://apastyle.apa.org/images/blog-citing-contemporary-works-index_tcm11-289962_w160_n.jpg)
From COVID-19 to demands for social justice: Citing contemporary sources for current events
The guidance in the seventh edition of the Publication Manual makes the process of citing contemporary sources found online easier than ever before.
![how to in text cite essays mla Citing classical and religious works](https://apastyle.apa.org/images/blog-citing-classical-religious-works-index_tcm11-286638_w160_n.png)
Citing classical and religious works
A classical or religious work is cited as either a book or a webpage, depending on what version of the source you are using. This post includes details and examples.
![how to in text cite essays mla Academic Writer logo](https://apastyle.apa.org/images/blog-academic-writer-logo-thumb_tcm11-283623_w160_n.jpg)
Academic Writer—APA’s essential teaching resource for higher education instructors
Academic Writer’s advanced authoring technology and digital learning tools allow students to take a hands-on approach to learning the scholarly research and writing process.
![how to in text cite essays mla how to in text cite essays mla](https://apastyle.apa.org/images/webinar-citing-text-square_tcm11-274861_w160_n.jpg)
APA Style webinar on citing works in text
Attend the webinar, “Citing Works in Text Using Seventh Edition APA Style,” on July 14, 2020, to learn the keys to accurately and consistently citing sources in APA Style.
Easy Steps: How to Cite Declaration of Independence in APA, MLA, and Chicago Style
“ultimate guide: how to cite declaration of independence correctly in your work” ..
Are you working on a research paper or project that requires you to cite the Declaration of Independence? Well, look no further because I’ve got you covered with a step-by-step guide on how to properly cite this important historical document.
First and foremost, it’s crucial to note that the Declaration of Independence is considered a primary source, meaning that it was written during the time period being studied. As such, it holds significant weight in historical research and analysis. When citing the Declaration of Independence in your work, it’s important to follow the guidelines set forth by the specific style guide you are using, whether it be APA, MLA, Chicago, or another format.
If you’re using APA style, you would cite the Declaration of Independence as follows: “United States. (1776). The Declaration of Independence.” It’s important to note that the author of the Declaration of Independence is considered to be the United States as a whole, rather than any individual person. The year of publication would be 1776, the year the document was adopted by the Continental Congress.
![how to in text cite essays mla](https://countylocalnews.com/article1/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/InShot_20240729_165414192-789x1024.jpg)
For those using MLA style, the citation would look slightly different: “Declaration of Independence.” The edition would be listed as “1776” and the publisher as “U.S. Continental Congress.” Again, the author is considered to be the United States as a collective entity.
In Chicago style, the citation would be formatted like this: “United States, Continental Congress. Declaration of Independence.” The year of publication would be 1776, and the city of publication would be Philadelphia, where the Continental Congress met to adopt the Declaration.
When citing the Declaration of Independence in your work, it’s important to provide as much information as possible to ensure accuracy and credibility. This includes the title of the document, the author (United States or U.S. Continental Congress), the year of publication (1776), and any other relevant details such as the edition or publisher.
In addition to citing the Declaration of Independence in the body of your work, it’s also important to include a full reference or bibliography entry at the end of your paper. This allows readers to easily locate the original source if they wish to learn more or verify your information.
In conclusion, citing the Declaration of Independence is an important aspect of academic writing and research. By following the guidelines set forth by your chosen style guide, you can ensure that your citations are accurate and consistent. So next time you’re working on a project that involves this historic document, you’ll know exactly how to cite it like a pro!
Title: How To Cite Declaration Of Independence
What is the Declaration of Independence?
The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in American history. It was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, and it announced that the thirteen American colonies were no longer under British rule. The document was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and it outlined the colonies’ reasons for seeking independence from Great Britain.
Why is it important to cite the Declaration of Independence?
Citing the Declaration of Independence is important because it is a primary source document that provides valuable historical information. When writing a research paper or academic essay, it is crucial to cite your sources properly to give credit to the original authors and to avoid plagiarism. By citing the Declaration of Independence correctly, you can show your readers where you obtained your information and allow them to verify your sources.
How do you cite the Declaration of Independence in APA format?
To cite the Declaration of Independence in APA format, you would follow the standard citation format for a government document. The citation would look like this:
United States. (1776). The Declaration of Independence.
How do you cite the Declaration of Independence in MLA format?
In MLA format, the citation for the Declaration of Independence would look like this:
United States. Continental Congress. Declaration of Independence. 4 July 1776.
How do you cite specific quotes from the Declaration of Independence?
When citing specific quotes from the Declaration of Independence, you should include the author (Thomas Jefferson) and the year of publication (1776). For example, if you were quoting the famous line “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,” your citation would look like this:
According to Thomas Jefferson (1776), “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
How do you cite the Declaration of Independence in Chicago style?
In Chicago style, the citation for the Declaration of Independence would look like this:
United States, Continental Congress, “Declaration of Independence,” July 4, 1776.
Why is it important to use proper citation style?
Using proper citation style is important because it allows readers to easily locate the sources you used in your research. It also gives credit to the original authors and prevents plagiarism. Different citation styles have specific rules and formats, so it is important to follow the guidelines for the style you are using to ensure accurate and consistent citations.
In conclusion, citing the Declaration of Independence is an essential part of academic writing and research. By following the correct citation format for the style you are using, you can give credit to the original authors and provide valuable information to your readers. Remember to always cite your sources properly to maintain academic integrity and credibility in your work.
– American Psychological Association. “APA Style.” https://www.apastyle.org/ – Modern Language Association. “MLA Style Center.” https://style.mla.org/ – The Chicago Manual of Style Online. “Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide.” https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html
![how to in text cite essays mla](https://countylocalnews.com/article1/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot_20240727_161725_Chrome-1-587x1024.jpg)
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
![how to in text cite essays mla Case Western Reserve University](https://libapps.s3.amazonaws.com/customers/532/images/CWRU_Two-line_horizontal__Primary__logo_White.png)
Kelvin Smith Library
Artificial Intelligence
- What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
- Ethical Considerations
- AI for Students
- AI for Faculty and Staff
- AI Citation and Academic Integrity
- AI and Copyright
Citation and Academic Integrity
Ask yourself if the ways you are using AI in any course assignments crosses any ethical lines or have been approved by your course instructor. It can be helpful to ask yourself questions such as:
- Is the AI doing the work you're being assessed for? If so, you should carefully consider if your use of AI is ethical, and if using it for this purpose will help you in the long run.
- Does your professor allow this use of AI for this assignment? Your professor should have clearly indicated what uses of AI are allowed in your class syllabus. If you're ever not sure about your use of AI, ask your professor.
Similarly to when you use other types of outside sources in your research, writing, and academic output, you should cite any AI outputs you’re including in your work. Citation is an important component of showing where your information comes from, allowing you to participate in a bigger scholarly conversation with other researchers and students who are working on similar topics. It also helps you avoid plagiarism and uphold academic integrity in your work.
Many citation styles have issues guidance on citing AI output.
MLA has allowed for flexibility in citing AI by providing a core template of elements to incorporate into a citation. Moreover, it suggests double-checking the secondary sources the chat generates in case they do not actually exist.
The APA Style guide suggests including an appendix where the full text of the LLM output can be shared with readers
- Chicago Style
Chicago Manual of Style suggests disclosing in a footnote or in the body of the text whether the author used e.g. ChatGPT to generate information used for writing.
CWRU’s Writing Resource Center has further tips for considering AI & academic integrity in academic writing .
- << Previous: AI for Faculty and Staff
- Next: AI and Copyright >>
- Last Updated: Aug 18, 2024 11:38 AM
- URL: https://researchguides.case.edu/artificalintelligence
Generate accurate MLA citations for free
- Knowledge Base
- How to cite a website in MLA
How to Cite a Website in MLA | Format & Examples
Published on July 17, 2019 by Shona McCombes . Revised on March 5, 2024.
An MLA website citation includes the author’s name , the title of the page (in quotation marks), the name of the website (in italics), the publication date , and the URL (without “https://”).
If the author is unknown, start with the title of the page instead. If the publication date is unknown, or if the content is likely to change over time, add an access date at the end instead.
Websites don’t usually have page numbers, so the in-text citation is just the author name in parentheses. If you already named the author in your sentence, you don’t need to add a parenthetical citation.
You can also use our free MLA Citation Generator to effortlessly create website citations.
Generate accurate MLA citations with Scribbr
The format differs for other types of online content, such as YouTube videos , TED Talks , and podcasts .
Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text
Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes
![how to in text cite essays mla upload-your-document-ai-proofreader](https://www.scribbr.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/grammar-check.webp)
Table of contents
Citing online articles, citing web pages with no author or date, citing an entire website, publishers in mla website citations, frequently asked questions about mla style.
The format for citing an article from an online newspaper , magazine, or blog is the same as a general web page citation. If the article is a PDF of a print article, the format differs slightly .
Write the article title in title case (all major words capitalized). Use the most recent publication date on the page, including the day, month, and year if available.
MLA format | Author last name, First name. “Title of Article.” , Day Month Year, URL. |
Smith, Helena. “The Women Who Brought Down Greece’s Golden Dawn.” , 22 Oct. 2020, www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/22/the-women-who-brought-down-greeces-golden-dawn. | |
(Smith) |
Note, however, that a different format is used when citing online articles from academic journals.
Learn how to cite journal articles in MLA
Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services
Discover proofreading & editing
If no author is credited, leave out this element, and start with the title of the page or article instead.
Use a shortened version of the title in your in-text citation. The shortened title must match the first words of your Works Cited entry.
MLA format | “Title of Article.” , Day Month Year, URL. |
“US Election 2020: A Guide to the Final Presidential Debate.” , 21 Oct. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2020-54620868. | |
(“US Election 2020”) |
If no publication date is available, leave out this element, and include the date on which you accessed the page at the end.
MLA format | “Title of Article.” , URL. Accessed Day Month Year. |
“Citing Sources and Referencing.” , www.scribbr.com/category/citing-sources. Accessed 16 July 2019. | |
(“Citing Sources”) |
Note that a specific format exists for citing online dictionary entries .
If you cite a whole website, there is usually no named author, so the Works Cited entry begins with the name of the website in italics.
If the website has a publication or copyright date (usually found in the footer), include this; if not, add the date when you accessed the website at the end of the citation.
MLA format | . Day Month Year, URL. |
. www.scribbr.com. Accessed 11 July 2019. | |
( ) |
When should you cite a whole website?
Most of the time, you should cite the specific page or article where you found the information. However, you might have to cite the entire website if you are giving a general overview of its content, referring only to the homepage, or quoting text that appears on many different pages across the site (such as a company’s slogan).
If you cite multiple pages or articles from the same website, you should include a separate Works Cited entry for each one.
![how to in text cite essays mla Website publisher in an MLA website citation](https://www.scribbr.com/wp-content/uploads//2019/07/mla-footer-publisher-2.png)
If the publisher is the same as the name of the website, you leave it out of the citation to avoid repetition.
Website with different publisher | Website the same as publisher |
---|---|
. Modern Language Association of America, 2019, style.mla.org. | . www.scribbr.com. Accessed 10 June 2019. |
“Antibiotic Resistance and Food Safety.” , U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 5 Sept. 2018, www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/challenges/antibiotic-resistance.html. | “CEU Expresses Solidarity with the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.” , 3 July 2019, www.ceu.edu/article/2019-07-03/ceu-expresses-solidarity-hungarian-academy-sciences. |
If a source has no author, start the MLA Works Cited entry with the source title . Use a shortened version of the title in your MLA in-text citation .
If a source has no page numbers, you can use an alternative locator (e.g. a chapter number, or a timestamp for a video or audio source) to identify the relevant passage in your in-text citation. If the source has no numbered divisions, cite only the author’s name (or the title).
If you already named the author or title in your sentence, and there is no locator available, you don’t need a parenthetical citation:
- Rajaram argues that representations of migration are shaped by “cultural, political, and ideological interests.”
- The homepage of The Correspondent describes it as “a movement for radically different news.”
If a source has two authors, name both authors in your MLA in-text citation and Works Cited entry. If there are three or more authors, name only the first author, followed by et al.
Number of authors | In-text citation | Works Cited entry |
---|---|---|
1 author | (Moore 37) | Moore, Jason W. |
2 authors | (Moore and Patel 37) | Moore, Jason W., and Raj Patel. |
3+ authors | (Moore et al. 37) | Moore, Jason W., et al. |
Yes. MLA style uses title case, which means that all principal words (nouns, pronouns , verbs, adjectives , adverbs , and some conjunctions ) are capitalized.
This applies to titles of sources as well as the title of, and subheadings in, your paper. Use MLA capitalization style even when the original source title uses different capitalization .
The title of an article is not italicized in MLA style , but placed in quotation marks. This applies to articles from journals , newspapers , websites , or any other publication. Use italics for the title of the source where the article was published. For example:
Use the same formatting in the Works Cited entry and when referring to the article in the text itself.
The fastest and most accurate way to create MLA citations is by using Scribbr’s MLA Citation Generator .
Search by book title, page URL, or journal DOI to automatically generate flawless citations, or cite manually using the simple citation forms.
Cite this Scribbr article
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
McCombes, S. (2024, March 05). How to Cite a Website in MLA | Format & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved August 19, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/mla/website-citation/
Is this article helpful?
Shona McCombes
Other students also liked, a complete guide to mla in-text citations, how to cite a youtube video in mla, how to cite an image in mla, get unlimited documents corrected.
✔ Free APA citation check included ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts
![](http://sektorel.online/777/templates/cheerup/res/banner1.gif)
IMAGES
COMMENTS
MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook (9th ed.), offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.
Revised on March 5, 2024. An MLA in-text citation provides the author's last name and a page number in parentheses. If a source has two authors, name both. If a source has more than two authors, name only the first author, followed by " et al. ". If the part you're citing spans multiple pages, include the full page range.
In parenthetical citations, use only the author's surname. For sources with two authors, use two surnames (e.g., Strine and Radick). For sources with three or more author names, use the first author's surname followed by "et al.". The title of the essay is enclosed in double quotation marks and uses title case.
An in-text citation is a reference to a source that is found within the text of a paper ( Handbook 227). This tells a reader that an idea, quote, or paraphrase originated from a source. MLA in-text citations usually include the last name of the author and the location of cited information. This guide focuses on how to create MLA in-text ...
The basic rule is that in both your Works-Cited List and in-text citation you will still cite Kirkey. Kirkey will appear in your Works Cited list - NOT Smith. Add the words "qtd. in" to your in-text citation. Examples of in-text citations: According to a study by Smith (qtd. in Kirkey) 42% of doctors would refuse to perform legal euthanasia.
According to the MLA Handbook, the citation should interrupt the text of your essay as little as possible (227). There are two ways to do this: Signal phrase (" Citation in prose " in the MLA Handbook): Introducing the name of the author or the work's title in the text of your sentence. Parenthetical citation: Paraphrasing an idea or using a ...
Resources on using in-text citations in MLA style. The Basics General guidelines for referring to the works of others in your essay Works Cited Page. Resources on writing an MLA style works cited page, including citation formats. Basic Format Basic guidelines for formatting the works cited page at the end of an MLA style paper ...
This guide follows the 9th edition (the most recent) of the MLA Handbook, published by the Modern Language Association in 2021. To cite sources in MLA style, you need. In-text citations that give the author's last name and a page number. A list of Works Cited that gives full details of every source. Make sure your paper also adheres to MLA ...
The point of an in-text citation is to show your reader where your information comes from. Including citations: Avoids plagiarism by acknowledging the original author's contribution. Allows readers to verify your claims and do follow-up research. Shows you are engaging with the literature of your field. Academic writing is seen as an ongoing ...
The Purdue OWL, Purdue U Writing Lab. Accessed 18 Jun. 2018. MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook (9th ed.), offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations ...
When you cite a work that appears inside a larger source (for instance, an article in a periodical or an essay in a collection), cite the author of the internal source (i.e., the article or essay). For example, to cite Albert Einstein's article "A Brief Outline of the Theory of Relativity," which was published in Nature in 1921, you might write ...
These citations within the essay are called in-text citations. You must cite all quoted, paraphrased, or summarized words, ideas, and facts from sources. Without in-text citations, you are in danger of plagiarism, even if you have listed your sources at the end of the essay. In-text citations point the reader to the sources' information in ...
MLA in-text citation style uses the author's last name and the page number from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken, for example: (Smith 163). If the source does not use page numbers, do not include a number in the parenthetical citation: (Smith). For more information on in-text citation, see the MLA Style Center.
In-text citations are also sometimes known as "parenthetical citations" because they are enclosed in parentheses. Most often, the author's last name and the page number (s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in parentheses at the end of the sentence. At the end of the day Wilbur made "in excess of half a million ...
An in-text citation is a source citation in academic writing that is placed directly in the body text, typically at the end of the related sentence, clause, or phrase. This is an alternative style to footnotes, which cite sources at the bottom of a page, or endnotes, which cite sources at the end of a section, chapter, or entire work.
MLA In-Text Citations. MLA style uses in-text citations to give credit to authors when paraphrasing or quoting their ideas. In-text citations include two parts, the lead-in (or signal) phrase and the parenthetical citation. The lead-in phrase is an important element of the in-text citation to include when integrating sources into your own writing.
In MLA, in-text citations are inserted in the body of your research paper to briefly document the source of your information. Brief in-text citations point the reader to the full citation on the works cited list at the end of the paper. ... The writer may refer to the physician by Dr. (name), when writing a paraphrase or inserting a direct ...
Every in-text citation must correspond with a full citation on the Works Cited page, and vice versa. You can't include a source in your references list if you don't also cite it in your paper. Parenthetical Citations. Place at the end of a sentence, before the ending punctuation mark. One author: Citations help readers follow your research ...
MLA citation. If an author's name isn't listed, omit it and start the citation with the title of the work. ... idea (in-text citation) or incorporating the author's name into the sentence (narrative). Type 1: In parentheses, put the author's last name(s) ... instead of in the header on page 1 of your essay (fig. 2).
The Modern Language Association uses the MLA Handbook to provide guidelines on MLA Style, which is the citation style you will be using in this class to format your papers and cite your sources.Included on this page are important documents and links that will help you to use MLA properly. New MLA 9 rules state that the citation should NOT include http:\\
Scroll back up to the generator at the top of the page and select the type of source you're citing. Books, journal articles, and webpages are all examples of the types of sources our generator can cite automatically. Then either search for the source, or enter the details manually in the citation form. The generator will produce a formatted MLA ...
When using outside sources in your work, it is important to give credit to the original source and provide basic in-text citations also known as parenthetical citations at the end of the sentence that contains that borrowed information. Parenthetical citations may contain the following: Author's name; Title of the work; Page numbers ...
Cite your MLA source. Start by applying these MLA format guidelines to your document: Use an easily readable font like 12 pt Times New Roman. Set 1 inch page margins. Use double line spacing. Include a ½" indent for new paragraphs. Include a four-line MLA heading on the first page. Center the paper's title.
The student title page includes the paper title, author names (the byline), author affiliation, course number and name for which the paper is being submitted, instructor name, assignment due date, and page number, as shown in this example.
MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook (8th ed.), offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.
The following are guidelines to follow when writing in-text citations: Ensure that the spelling of author names and the publication dates in reference list entries match those in the corresponding in-text citations. Cite only works that you have read and ideas that you have incorporated into your writing. The works you cite may provide key ...
When writing a research paper or academic essay, it is crucial to cite your sources properly to give credit to the original authors and to avoid plagiarism. By citing the Declaration of Independence correctly, you can show your readers where you obtained your information and allow them to verify your sources.
As you write the literature review, you'll need to draw on other researchers' work. It's crucial that you cite all of your sources properly, or you'll be committing plagiarism. Tip: Check plagiarism in your text now. QuillBot's detects plagiarism in your text and makes sure that it is plagiarism-free. Check Plagiarism Now Method and ...
The APA Style guide suggests including an appendix where the full text of the LLM output can be shared with readers. Chicago Style; Chicago Manual of Style suggests disclosing in a footnote or in the body of the text whether the author used e.g. ChatGPT to generate information used for writing.
Revised on March 5, 2024. An MLA website citation includes the author's name, the title of the page (in quotation marks), the name of the website (in italics), the publication date, and the URL (without "https://"). If the author is unknown, start with the title of the page instead. If the publication date is unknown, or if the content is ...